Mountain Ash · Mid Glamorgan
Crack stitching in Mountain Ash
Before we stitch a crack at a Mountain Ash property, we want to know why it opened and whether it has stopped. Stitching a wall that is still moving rarely holds, so the cause comes first and the bars come second.
Guide price from£75per metre of crack inc VAT
- Postcodes
- CF45
- Population
- about 11,000
- Area
- Mid Glamorgan
- Pricing region
- Wales
What is the ground like in Mid Glamorgan?
Mountain Ash is in Mid Glamorgan and takes in postcode districts CF45. About 11,000 people live there. We also take enquiries from nearby Rhondda (3 miles), Aberdare (4 miles) and Merthyr Tydfil (4 miles).
Clay soils are found in parts of Mid Glamorgan. Historic coal workings are recorded beneath parts of Mid Glamorgan, and a coal mining search is worth checking where movement is unexplained. Housing stock in Mid Glamorgan: Long stone and brick terraces on valley sides, Victorian houses in Bridgend and post-war estates.
Crack stitching prices in Mountain Ash
Guide prices below are for homes in Mountain Ash, on Wales rates and including VAT. A survey or good photos let us turn them into a fixed written price.
| Item | Guide price | Per |
|---|---|---|
| Crack stitching with stainless helical bars | £75 – £165 | per metre of crack |
| Small jobs (minimum visit)est. | £320 – £460 | per visit |
| Repointing over the stitched line in matching mortarest. | £30 – £55 | per metre |
How we usually approach crack stitching
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
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
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.
Cut, clean and grout
Slots are cut into the bed joints to the right depth, dust is blown and washed out, and grout is placed. The bars are pressed home and covered, and the crack line is filled or injected.
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
- A crack visible on both the inside and outside face of the wall
- Stepped cracking beside a window, door or corner
- Filled cracks that keep reopening along the same line
Rules for crack stitching in Wales
In Wales, small like-for-like repairs do not usually need approval, but work that alters or strengthens the structure needs building control under the Welsh Building Regulations, and the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 can apply to shared walls.
Questions about crack stitching in Mountain Ash
What is the price of crack stitching in Mountain Ash?
Guide prices for crack stitching in Mountain Ash start from about £75 per metre of crack, including VAT, on Wales rates. Your fixed written price follows photos or a survey and depends on the extent of the work and access.
Do you carry out crack stitching in Mountain Ash?
Yes. We take enquiries from across Mountain Ash, including CF45, and from nearby places such as Rhondda and Aberdare. Send photos for a free initial view and we will tell you what happens next.
Does the ground around Mountain Ash cause cracking?
Mid Glamorgan lies on the South Wales coalfield, with dense historic workings, spoil tips and steep valley sides. Landslip, retaining walls and mining legacy are all live issues in the valleys. Only an investigation can say why a particular building has moved.
How long does crack stitching last?
Stainless steel bars do not rust, so a stitched repair in a stable wall should last as long as the surrounding brickwork. The repair only fails early when the wall keeps moving, which is why the cause is dealt with before the bars go in.
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.
More repairs we carry out in Mountain Ash
- Bay window subsidence repairs
- Subsidence repairs
- Retaining wall repairs
- Subsidence insurance claim repairs
- Bowing wall repairs
Crack stitching near Mountain Ash
Unsure whether a crack in Mountain Ash has stopped moving? Pictures with the date on them, taken over a few weeks, help us advise before any bars go in.