Shropshire · England
Crack stitching in Shropshire
We arrange surveys and price crack stitching throughout Shropshire. Shropshire has a mix of ground, with clay in some places and firmer rock in others, and we take that into account before recommending a method.
Guide price from£80per metre of crack inc VAT
- Area
- Shropshire
- Pricing region
- West Midlands
- Ground
- Clay in parts
- Towns listed
- 3
What should you know about the ground under Shropshire?
Shropshire has very varied rock, from Mercia Mudstone on the north Shropshire plain to the Coalbrookdale coalfield under Telford, where historic shallow coal, clay and ironstone workings are widespread.
Parts of Shropshire lie on a former coalfield, so a coal mining search is worth checking if movement has no obvious cause. What you mostly find across Shropshire: timber-framed and brick town houses, industrial terraces around Telford, and new-town estates.
Guide prices for crack stitching in Shropshire
For Shropshire we use West Midlands rates. Treat the table as a budget guide, inc VAT; the price you pay is the one on your written quote.
| Item | Guide price | Per |
|---|---|---|
| Crack stitching with stainless helical bars | £80 – £180 | per metre of crack |
| Small jobs (minimum visit)est. | £350 – £500 | per visit |
| Repointing over the stitched line in matching mortarest. | £30 – £60 | per metre |
Methods for 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
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 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
From first photo to finished repair
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.
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.
Symptoms that point to crack stitching
- Bricks split clean through where the crack crosses them
- Filled cracks that keep reopening along the same line
- Cracking that a surveyor or engineer has said is now stable
- A crack you can fit a coin into, running through bricks and mortar
Do you need approval for crack stitching 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 Shropshire we cover for crack stitching
Frequently asked questions
Is the ground in Shropshire prone to subsidence?
Shropshire has very varied rock, from Mercia Mudstone on the north Shropshire plain to the Coalbrookdale coalfield under Telford, where historic shallow coal, clay and ironstone workings are widespread. Parts of Shropshire 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 Shropshire?
On West Midlands rates, crack stitching starts from about £80 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.
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.
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.
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.