Cardiff · South Glamorgan
Crack stitching in Cardiff
Got a crack you can slip a coin into? In Cardiff, 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£75per metre of crack inc VAT
- Postcodes
- CF10, CF11, CF24
- Population
- about 370,000
- Area
- South Glamorgan
- Pricing region
- Wales
Why does the ground in South Glamorgan matter for crack stitching?
Postcode districts CF10, CF11, CF24 cover Cardiff, a South Glamorgan town of about 370,000 people. Nearby places we cover include Penarth (3 miles), Caerphilly (7 miles) and Barry (7 miles).
South Glamorgan has a mix of ground, with clay in some places and firmer rock in others. Ground movement here is more often linked to soils, drains and trees than to mining. What you mostly find across South Glamorgan: Victorian terraces in Cardiff and Penarth, inter-war semis and post-war estates.
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
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.
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.
Symptoms that point to crack stitching
- Cracking that a surveyor or engineer has said is now stable
- Bricks split clean through where the crack crosses them
- Stepped cracking beside a window, door or corner
Guide prices for crack stitching in Cardiff
Prices in Cardiff are worked out on Wales 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 | £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 |
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.
Frequently asked questions
How much should I budget for crack stitching in Cardiff?
Guide prices for crack stitching in Cardiff 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.
Can you survey a property in Cardiff?
Yes, Cardiff is covered, along with postcode districts CF10, CF11, CF24. We also cover nearby Penarth and Caerphilly.
Why do houses in South Glamorgan crack?
Cardiff is built on Mercia Mudstone, river gravels and alluvium, and the Vale of Glamorgan on Lias limestone and clay. Soft alluvium near the rivers and docks can settle. 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.
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.
Related work in Cardiff
- Underpinning
- Bay window subsidence repairs
- Subsidence repairs
- Chimney stack repairs
- Structural crack repairs
Crack stitching near Cardiff
Get a fixed price in writing for crack stitching in Cardiff once the repair is specified, with internal making good shown as a separate line.