Sittingbourne · Kent
Extension pulling away repairs in Sittingbourne
For many Sittingbourne 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£670per junction inc VAT
- Postcodes
- ME9, ME10, ME12
- Population
- about 54,000
- Area
- Kent
- Pricing region
- South East
How do local ground conditions affect extension pulling away repairs in Sittingbourne?
We cover Sittingbourne and its postcode districts ME9, ME10, ME12, part of Kent, with a population of roughly 54,000. Nearby, we also cover Faversham (7 miles), Gillingham (9 miles) and Maidstone (11 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.
Guide prices for extension pulling away repairs in Sittingbourne
These are guide prices for Sittingbourne, using South East rates and including VAT. Your written quote follows photos or a survey, and is fixed once the repair is specified.
| 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 |
Methods for 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
From first photo to finished repair
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.
Choose the fix
The engineer decides between ties, a movement joint or underpinning. We confirm a fixed price in writing once the repair is specified, covering the junction, flashings, internal finishes and any foundation work.
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
- Floor level dropping where the extension and house floors meet
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
How much should I budget for extension pulling away repairs in Sittingbourne?
Guide prices for extension pulling away repairs in Sittingbourne 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.
Can you survey a property in Sittingbourne?
Yes, Sittingbourne is covered, along with postcode districts ME9, ME10, ME12. We also cover nearby Faversham and Gillingham.
Why do houses in Kent crack?
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.
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.
Related work in Sittingbourne
- Crack stitching
- Boundary and garden wall repairs
- Gable end wall repairs
- Roof structure repairs
- Retaining wall repairs
Extension pulling away repairs near Sittingbourne
If the junction at your Sittingbourne property keeps reopening, send dated photos and we will suggest whether monitoring, a drain survey or a repair comes next.