County Tyrone · Northern Ireland
Crack stitching in County Tyrone
Looking for crack stitching in County Tyrone? Send us photos for a free initial view. Clay shrinkage is less of a concern in County Tyrone, so other causes such as drains, poor footings or older walls are checked first, so we look at the ground, drains and nearby trees before recommending anything.
Guide price from£70per metre of crack inc VAT
- Area
- County Tyrone
- Pricing region
- Northern Ireland
- Ground
- Mostly firmer ground
- Towns listed
- 4
What is the ground like in County Tyrone?
Tyrone has glacial till over varied rock, with a small historic coalfield around Coalisland near Dungannon.
Parts of County Tyrone lie on a former coalfield, so a coal mining search is worth checking if movement has no obvious cause. Typical buildings in County Tyrone: Market-town terraces, rural houses and post-war estates.
Crack stitching prices in County Tyrone
These are guide prices for County Tyrone, using Northern Ireland rates and including VAT. Your written quote follows photos or a survey, and is fixed once the repair is specified.
| Item | Guide price | Per |
|---|---|---|
| Crack stitching with stainless helical bars | £70 – £160 | per metre of crack |
| Small jobs (minimum visit)est. | £310 – £440 | per visit |
| Repointing over the stitched line in matching mortarest. | £25 – £55 | per metre |
How we usually approach crack stitching
Helical bars in cementitious grout
The most common approach. A slot is cut along the bed joint with a twin-blade cutter, flushed out and part filled with a cement-based grout. The helical bar is pushed in, more grout is packed over it, and the joint is pointed to match. The grout cures over a few days.
Best for: Most brick and block walls, including older softer bricks
Helical bars in resin grout
A resin grout bonds quickly and strongly to the bar and masonry and suits wet conditions or work that must take load sooner. It is less forgiving of soft or crumbly bricks, so the choice of grout is made wall by wall rather than as a rule.
Best for: Dense bricks, damp walls and repairs needing a fast cure
Stitching with crack injection
Once the bars are in, the crack itself is filled. Fine cracks are pointed in matching mortar, while wider or deeper cracks can be injected with grout so the void inside the wall is filled rather than just the face. On older houses, lime mortar keeps the repair breathable.
Best for: Deep cracks running through the full thickness of the wall
What happens during crack stitching, step by step?
Confirm the cause has stopped
Before quoting we check what made the wall crack and whether it is still moving. If there is doubt, we suggest a period of monitoring or an engineer’s view, rather than stitching a crack that will simply open again.
Set out the bars
Bar positions are marked across the crack, typically every few courses up its full height, with each bar extending well into sound brickwork on both sides. An engineer’s specification, where there is one, sets the exact spacing and length.
Make good and record
Internal plaster cracks are cut out and filled where included, and dust is cleared. You receive a short note of where the bars went, which is useful for future buyers, surveyors and any insurance file.
What to look for before calling about crack stitching
- Stepped cracking beside a window, door or corner
- A crack you can fit a coin into, running through bricks and mortar
- Cracking that a surveyor or engineer has said is now stable
- Filled cracks that keep reopening along the same line
Do you need approval for crack stitching in Northern Ireland?
In Northern Ireland, minor repairs usually need no approval, but structural work comes under the Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 and council building control. There is no Party Wall Act in Northern Ireland.
Find crack stitching in your County Tyrone town
Questions about crack stitching in County Tyrone
Why do houses in County Tyrone crack?
Tyrone has glacial till over varied rock, with a small historic coalfield around Coalisland near Dungannon. Parts of County Tyrone 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 crack stitching cost in County Tyrone?
On Northern Ireland rates, crack stitching starts from about £70 per metre of crack, including VAT. The written price depends on the extent of the damage, access and whether an engineer or building control is needed.
How far apart are helical bars placed?
Helical bars are usually placed every few courses up the full height of the crack, each one running well past the crack into sound brickwork. Spacing and bar length depend on the wall and the crack width, and where an engineer has specified the repair, their drawing sets them.
Can I stitch a crack myself?
It is possible on a small, stable crack, but the work involves cutting into joints with a twin-blade cutter, controlling silica dust and placing the bars correctly. If the crack is part of an insurance claim or is wide, have it assessed first, because a poor repair can hide ongoing movement.
Is resin or cement grout better for crack stitching?
Neither is better in every case. Cement-based grout suits most walls and is kinder to soft, older bricks, while resin grout bonds faster and copes better with damp. The choice depends on the masonry, the conditions and any engineer’s specification.