Sevenoaks · Kent
Extension pulling away repairs in Sevenoaks
An extension pulling away from a Sevenoaks house is often a drain problem, a shallow footing or a missing tie-in, rather than a failing building. Finding out which applies decides whether the fix is a junction repair or new foundations.
Guide price from£670per junction inc VAT
- Postcodes
- TN13
- Population
- about 30,000
- Area
- Kent
- Pricing region
- South East
Why does the ground in Kent matter for extension pulling away repairs?
Sevenoaks, Kent: about 30,000 residents across postcode districts TN13. Neighbouring towns we cover: Tonbridge (6 miles), Swanley (9 miles) and Bromley (10 miles).
Shrinkable clay is widespread in Kent. Parts of Kent lie on a former coalfield, so a coal mining search is worth checking if movement has no obvious cause. What you mostly find across Kent: Victorian terraces in the Medway towns, weatherboarded and Wealden houses, 1930s semis and seaside bungalows.
Methods for extension pulling away repairs
Junction crack repair with stainless ties
The open joint is cut out, stainless ties or helical bars are fixed across it into both the old and new masonry, and the joint is repointed or rendered to match. Inside, the corner is replastered. This suits extensions that moved once and have since stopped.
Best for: Settled extensions with a stable gap at the junction
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
From first photo to finished repair
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.
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.
Finish and hand over
Internal corners are replastered, skirtings and coving refixed, and doors or windows in the extension eased where the movement affected them. Records of the repair and any approvals are passed to you.
Symptoms that point to extension pulling away repairs
- Patio doors or windows in the extension starting to bind
- Extension roof flashing lifting off the original wall
- Mastic or render at the joint repeatedly splitting open
Guide prices for extension pulling away repairs in Sevenoaks
For Sevenoaks we use South East 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Junction crack repair with stainless tiesest. | £670 – £2,250 | per junction |
| Movement joint and making goodest. | £450 – £1,350 | per junction |
| Underpinning the extension where needed | £1,100 – £2,800 | 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.
Frequently asked questions
What is the price of extension pulling away repairs in Sevenoaks?
Guide prices for extension pulling away repairs in Sevenoaks start from about £670 per junction, including VAT, on South East rates. Your fixed written price follows photos or a survey and depends on the extent of the work and access.
Do you carry out extension pulling away repairs in Sevenoaks?
Yes, Sevenoaks is covered, along with postcode districts TN13. We also cover nearby Tonbridge and Swanley.
Does the ground around Sevenoaks cause cracking?
North Kent sits on London Clay, central Kent on Gault and Weald Clays and the Downs on chalk, so shrinkable clay is widespread. East Kent around Deal and Dover had a small deep coalfield, worked until the late 1980s. Only an investigation can say why a particular building has moved.
Is it normal for an extension to crack at the join?
A fine crack at the junction is fairly common, especially in the first few years as a new extension settles. It becomes a concern when the gap is widening, tapering, letting in water or matched by sticking doors and sloping floors. Those signs point to continuing movement.
What is a movement joint?
A movement joint is a deliberate, flexible break in a wall that lets two parts of a building move slightly without cracking. It is filled with a compressible material and sealed. At an extension junction it can replace a rigid joint that keeps cracking.
More repairs we carry out in Sevenoaks
- Crack stitching
- Structural surveys and crack monitoring
- Structural crack repairs
- Roof structure repairs
- Gable end wall repairs
Extension pulling away repairs near Sevenoaks
Share the loss adjuster’s schedule for your Sevenoaks extension claim, and we will price the junction repair and making good to it in writing.