Burnham-on-Sea · Somerset
Crack stitching in Burnham-on-Sea
Got a crack you can slip a coin into? In Burnham-on-Sea, as anywhere, that is usually wide enough to justify stitching rather than filling, provided an engineer or surveyor agrees the wall has stopped moving.
Guide price from£80per metre of crack inc VAT
- Postcodes
- TA8
- Population
- about 23,000
- Area
- Somerset
- Pricing region
- South West
How do local ground conditions affect crack stitching in Burnham-on-Sea?
Burnham-on-Sea is in Somerset and takes in postcode districts TA8. About 23,000 people live there. We also take enquiries from nearby Weston-super-Mare (7 miles), Bridgwater (8 miles) and Clevedon (15 miles).
Clay soils are found in parts of Somerset. Parts of Somerset lie on a former coalfield, so a coal mining search is worth checking if movement has no obvious cause. Typical buildings in Somerset: Bath stone Georgian terraces, Victorian houses in Taunton and Weston-super-Mare, and post-war estates.
Crack stitching prices in Burnham-on-Sea
Prices in Burnham-on-Sea are worked out on South West rates. They include VAT and are a starting point: access, the extent of the damage and whether an engineer or building control is involved all move the figure.
| Item | Guide price | Per |
|---|---|---|
| Crack stitching with stainless helical bars | £80 – £185 | per metre of crack |
| Small jobs (minimum visit)est. | £360 – £515 | per visit |
| Repointing over the stitched line in matching mortarest. | £30 – £60 | 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?
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.
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
Rules 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.
Questions about crack stitching in Burnham-on-Sea
How much should I budget for crack stitching in Burnham-on-Sea?
Guide prices for crack stitching in Burnham-on-Sea start from about £80 per metre of crack, including VAT, on South West 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 Burnham-on-Sea?
We do. Burnham-on-Sea and the surrounding area are covered, including nearby Weston-super-Mare and Bridgwater. A free initial assessment from your photos is the first step.
Why do houses in Somerset crack?
Somerset mixes Lias clays, Mercia Mudstone, limestone hills and the peat and alluvium of the Levels around Bridgwater, which can settle. The former Somerset coalfield around Radstock and Midsomer Norton left recorded workings. Only an investigation can say why a particular building has moved.
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.
Does crack stitching stop a wall moving?
No, crack stitching reconnects cracked masonry but does not stop the movement that caused it. If the ground is still shrinking, a drain is still leaking or ties are still rusting, a stitched wall can crack again nearby. The cause has to be identified and dealt with first.
Related work in Burnham-on-Sea
- Retaining wall repairs
- Mining subsidence repairs
- Boundary and garden wall repairs
- Concrete repairs
- Subsidence repairs
Crack stitching near Burnham-on-Sea
Try our online quote tool for a stitching guide price in Burnham-on-Sea, or send photos and we will check whether stitching is the right repair at all.