Leicester · Leicestershire
Structural surveys and crack monitoring in Leicester
Ground across Leicester and Leicestershire varies, and on clay the same crack can open in summer and close in winter. Readings taken in both seasons show the engineer which pattern applies before anyone decides on a repair.
Guide price from£490per property inc VAT
- Postcodes
- LE1, LE3, LE4, LE5
- Population
- about 370,000
- Area
- Leicestershire
- Pricing region
- East Midlands
What should you know about the ground under Leicester?
We cover Leicester and its postcode districts LE1, LE3, LE4, LE5, part of Leicestershire, with a population of roughly 370,000. Nearby, we also cover Wigston (4 miles), Mountsorrel (5 miles) and Earl Shilton (9 miles).
Clay soils are found in parts of Leicestershire. Parts of Leicestershire lie on a former coalfield, so a coal mining search is worth checking if movement has no obvious cause. What you mostly find across Leicestershire: Victorian terraces in Leicester and Loughborough, inter-war semis and large post-war estates.
Repair options we may recommend
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
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
What to expect when we carry out structural surveys and crack monitoring
Free initial assessment
Send photos of the cracks with something for scale and tell us when they appeared. We give a free view on whether an engineer’s inspection is worthwhile, and whether your insurer should be told first.
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.
Repair or close
If the readings show the house is stable, the engineer specifies the repair and we confirm a fixed price in writing. If movement continues, the cause is investigated further before a foundation repair is designed.
Is it time for structural surveys and crack monitoring? Common signs
- Cracks reopening after being filled and decorated
- An insurer or loss adjuster asking for monitoring
- Doors and windows sticking at some times of year only
What should you budget for structural surveys and crack monitoring in Leicester?
Guide prices below are for homes in Leicester, on East Midlands rates and including VAT. A survey or good photos let us turn them into a fixed written price.
| 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 |
Rules 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.
Your structural surveys and crack monitoring questions
How much should I budget for structural surveys and crack monitoring in Leicester?
Guide prices for structural surveys and crack monitoring in Leicester start from about £490 per property, including VAT, on East Midlands rates. Your fixed written price follows photos or a survey and depends on the extent of the work and access.
Can you survey a property in Leicester?
Yes, Leicester is covered, along with postcode districts LE1, LE3, LE4, LE5. We also cover nearby Wigston and Mountsorrel.
Why do houses in Leicestershire crack?
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. Only an investigation can say why a particular building has moved.
What do BRE crack categories mean?
BRE Digest 251 groups damage by typical crack width. Category 0 is under 0.1 mm, 1 up to 1 mm, 2 up to 5 mm, 3 from 5 to 15 mm or several of about 3 mm, 4 from 15 to 25 mm, and 5 usually over 25 mm. It is a guide to severity, not a diagnosis of cause.
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.
Related work in Leicester
- Gable end wall repairs
- Resin injection ground stabilisation
- Roof structure repairs
- Mining subsidence repairs
- Chimney stack repairs
Structural surveys and crack monitoring near Leicester
Send photos of the cracks at your Leicester home, and we will give a free initial assessment and say whether an engineer’s inspection is worth arranging.