Leicestershire · England
Structural surveys and crack monitoring in Leicestershire
Looking for structural surveys and crack monitoring in Leicestershire? Send us photos for a free initial view. Clay soils are found in parts of Leicestershire, so we look at the ground, drains and nearby trees before recommending anything.
Guide price from£490per property inc VAT
- Area
- Leicestershire
- Pricing region
- East Midlands
- Ground
- Clay in parts
- Towns listed
- 9
Is Leicestershire prone to ground movement?
Leicestershire has Mercia Mudstone, Lias clay and glacial till across much of the county, with the Coalville and Swadlincote coalfield in the north-west. Clay soils near large trees can move with the seasons.
Parts of Leicestershire lie on a former coalfield, so a coal mining search is worth checking if movement has no obvious cause. Across Leicestershire, most homes are Victorian terraces in Leicester and Loughborough, inter-war semis and large post-war estates.
What to look for before calling about structural surveys and crack monitoring
- Cracks reopening after being filled and decorated
- An insurer or loss adjuster asking for monitoring
- Cracks that seem wider after a hot, dry summer
- A mortgage valuation recommending a structural engineer’s report
Structural surveys and crack monitoring prices in Leicestershire
These are guide prices for Leicestershire, using East Midlands rates and including VAT. Your written quote follows photos or a survey, and is fixed once the repair is specified.
| Item | Guide price | Per |
|---|---|---|
| Structural engineer's inspection and report | £490 – £1,950 | per property |
| Crack monitoring: installation and three seasonal readings | £1,400 – £2,350 | per programme |
| Extra monitoring visit | £410 | per visit |
How we usually approach structural surveys and crack monitoring
Engineer’s structural inspection and report
A chartered structural engineer visits, records the cracks, checks the walls, floors, drains and nearby trees, and writes a report on the likely cause and next steps. It may recommend monitoring, investigations such as trial pits, or a repair specification.
Best for: A first expert opinion on any significant cracking
Level monitoring
Survey points are fixed around the building and their heights measured against a stable datum on each visit. This shows whether one part of the house is dropping or rising compared with the rest, which crack widths alone cannot reveal.
Best for: Suspected subsidence or heave across a whole house
Tell-tales and crack-width monitoring
Gauges are fixed across key cracks and read at set intervals, or reference studs are measured with callipers to a fraction of a millimetre. The readings show whether each crack is widening, closing or stable, and whether any change follows the seasons.
Best for: Tracking individual cracks over the seasons
What happens during structural surveys and crack monitoring, step by step?
Engineer’s inspection
We can arrange an independent chartered structural engineer to inspect. They record the damage, assess likely causes and recommend whether monitoring, drain surveys or trial pits are needed before any repair decision.
Install monitoring points
Tell-tales, measuring studs or level points are fixed at the locations the engineer chooses. A base reading is taken on the first visit, so every later reading can be compared against it.
Seasonal readings
Readings are taken at intervals across the seasons, typically including late summer when clay is driest and late winter when it is wettest. The engineer checks each set against the base reading and decides whether more visits are needed.
Do you need approval for structural surveys and crack monitoring in England?
Like-for-like repairs such as crack stitching and repointing do not usually need building control approval in England, but anything that changes or strengthens the structure, such as underpinning or rebuilding a wall, does. If the work touches a party wall, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 may apply.
Towns in Leicestershire we cover for structural surveys and crack monitoring
Questions about structural surveys and crack monitoring in Leicestershire
Is the ground in Leicestershire prone to subsidence?
Leicestershire has Mercia Mudstone, Lias clay and glacial till across much of the county, with the Coalville and Swadlincote coalfield in the north-west. Clay soils near large trees can move with the seasons. Parts of Leicestershire lie on a former coalfield, so a coal mining search is worth checking if movement has no obvious cause. Only an investigation on site can say why a particular building has moved.
How much will structural surveys and crack monitoring cost in Leicestershire?
On East Midlands rates, structural surveys and crack monitoring starts from about £490 per property, including VAT. The written price depends on the extent of the damage, access and whether an engineer or building control is needed.
What happens after the monitoring ends?
If the readings show the building is stable, the engineer specifies a repair, usually crack stitching and making good. If movement continues, further investigation and a foundation repair design follow. Either way, we confirm a fixed price in writing once the repair is specified.
Can I monitor cracks myself?
You can keep a useful record by photographing cracks with a ruler and pencilling dated marks at their ends. That helps an engineer, but it does not replace measured monitoring, which insurers and lenders usually expect. Do not fill or decorate over cracks while monitoring.
How long does crack monitoring take?
Monitoring normally runs for 6 to 12 months, because readings need to cover both the dry and wet seasons on clay soils. Shorter periods can be enough where the cause is clearly non-seasonal, such as a drain leak that has been repaired. The engineer decides when there is enough evidence.