Yeovil · Somerset
Crack stitching in Yeovil
Many Yeovil homeowners find a crack that has been filled twice and reopened both times. That pattern usually means the masonry needs bonding back together, and helical bar stitching does exactly that once the movement behind it has ended.
Guide price from£80per metre of crack inc VAT
- Postcodes
- BA20, BA21
- Population
- about 50,000
- Area
- Somerset
- Pricing region
- South West
What is the ground like in Somerset?
Yeovil is in Somerset and takes in postcode districts BA20, BA21. About 50,000 people live there. We also take enquiries from nearby Dorchester (18 miles), Bridgwater (21 miles) and Taunton (21 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.
Signs you may need crack stitching
- Bricks split clean through where the crack crosses them
- A crack you can fit a coin into, running through bricks and mortar
- A crack visible on both the inside and outside face of the wall
How much will crack stitching cost in Yeovil?
These are guide prices for Yeovil, using South West 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 | £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 |
Which repair method suits a home in Yeovil?
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
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 when we carry out crack stitching in Yeovil?
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.
Repoint to match
The cut joints and crack are pointed in a mortar chosen to match the colour, texture and strength of the existing work. On older houses with soft bricks, a lime mortar is used so the repair does not trap moisture.
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.
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.
Crack stitching in Yeovil: questions and answers
How much should I budget for crack stitching in Yeovil?
Guide prices for crack stitching in Yeovil 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 Yeovil?
Yes. We take enquiries from across Yeovil, including BA20, BA21, and from nearby places such as Dorchester and Bridgwater. Send photos for a free initial view and we will tell you what happens next.
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.
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.
Will crack stitching be visible afterwards?
Usually only slightly, because the bars sit inside the mortar joints and are pointed over. The main giveaway is the colour of new mortar, which can take a few months to weather. Careful mortar matching keeps the line discreet, especially on older brickwork.
Related work in Yeovil
- Floor joist repairs
- Structural surveys and crack monitoring
- Bowing wall repairs
- Lintel replacement
- Extension pulling away repairs
Crack stitching near Yeovil
Get a fixed price in writing for crack stitching in Yeovil once the repair is specified, with internal making good shown as a separate line.