Bournemouth · Dorset
Extension pulling away repairs in Bournemouth
For many Bournemouth homes, the extension was added decades after the house was built, on concrete that never matched the original footings. Where that difference causes movement, a designed movement joint or a deeper foundation is the usual fix.
Guide price from£620per junction inc VAT
- Postcodes
- BH1, BH2, BH4
- Population
- about 160,000
- Area
- Dorset
- Pricing region
- South West
Is Dorset prone to ground movement?
Bournemouth, Dorset: about 160,000 residents across postcode districts BH1, BH2, BH4. Nearby, we also cover Christchurch (4 miles), Poole (5 miles) and Ferndown (6 miles).
Clay soils are found in parts of Dorset. Ground movement here is more often linked to soils, drains and trees than to mining. What you mostly find across Dorset: stone and brick villages, Victorian villas in Bournemouth, and inter-war and post-war semis.
How we usually approach extension pulling away repairs
Underpinning the extension
If the extension is still dropping because its footings are too shallow or on poor ground, they are taken deeper by mass concrete, beam-and-base or mini-piles. The engineer designs the scheme, and the junction is repaired once the new foundation is in.
Best for: Active movement from shallow footings, roots or soft ground
Movement joint and making good
Where some seasonal movement is expected to continue, the junction is formed into a proper flexible movement joint with a compressible filler and sealant, so the two parts can move without cracking. Flashings and internal finishes are detailed to suit.
Best for: Minor ongoing movement that does not threaten the structure
What happens during extension pulling away repairs, step by step?
Show us the junction
Send photos of the crack outside, the internal corner and any flashing above, with a measure for scale. We give a free initial assessment and an initial view on whether the gap is likely old or still opening.
Find what is moving
An independent chartered structural engineer can inspect, and we can arrange one. A drain survey under the extension, a trial pit at its footing and tell-tale monitoring across the joint are common checks before choosing the repair.
Repair the junction
Drains are repaired first if they are leaking. The joint is then tied, formed as a movement joint or rebuilt after underpinning, with roof flashings reset so the junction stays watertight. Building control is handled where needed.
What to look for before calling about extension pulling away repairs
- Daylight or draughts showing through the internal corner joint
- Floor level dropping where the extension and house floors meet
- A vertical crack or gap where the extension meets the house
Extension pulling away repairs prices in Bournemouth
Guide prices below are for homes in Bournemouth, on South West rates and including VAT. A survey or good photos let us turn them into a fixed written price.
| Item | Guide price | Per |
|---|---|---|
| Junction crack repair with stainless tiesest. | £620 – £2,050 | per junction |
| Movement joint and making goodest. | £410 – £1,250 | per junction |
| Underpinning the extension where needed | £1,050 – £2,600 | per metre of wall |
Rules for extension pulling away repairs in England
In England, underpinning and other work that alters or strengthens a wall or foundation is building work under the Building Regulations (Part A, structure), so building control approves and inspects it. Like-for-like repairs often are not, and we tell you which applies before a price is agreed. Work to a party wall, or excavation close to a neighbour’s foundations, can also need a notice under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996.
Questions about extension pulling away repairs in Bournemouth
How much should I budget for extension pulling away repairs in Bournemouth?
Guide prices for extension pulling away repairs in Bournemouth start from about £620 per junction, 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 Bournemouth?
Yes. We take enquiries from across Bournemouth, including BH1, BH2, BH4, and from nearby places such as Christchurch and Poole. Send photos for a free initial view and we will tell you what happens next.
Why do houses in Dorset crack?
Dorset mixes chalk downs, Oxford and Kimmeridge Clays in the vales, and the sands and gravels of the Poole basin. Clay vales can shrink and swell, and parts of the coast are known for landslip. Only an investigation can say why a particular building has moved.
Why is my extension pulling away from my house?
Usually because the extension and the house sit on different foundations that react differently to the ground. Shallow extension footings, leaking drains under the extension, nearby roots and weak tie-ins between old and new walls are the common causes.
Can a drain under my extension cause it to move?
Yes, a cracked or displaced drain beneath or beside an extension can soften clay or wash away fine soil. A CCTV drain survey usually finds it. Repairing the drain is often the first and most important step before any repair to the walls.
Related work in Bournemouth
- Boundary and garden wall repairs
- Brick arch repairs
- Lintel replacement
- Concrete repairs
- Resin injection ground stabilisation
Extension pulling away repairs near Bournemouth
Share the loss adjuster’s schedule for your Bournemouth extension claim, and we will price the junction repair and making good to it in writing.