Swanscombe · Kent
Extension pulling away repairs in Swanscombe
Rear and side extensions are common across Swanscombe, and so is the crack where new meets old. Usually it reflects the two parts sitting on different foundations, and the first question is whether the gap is still opening.
Guide price from£670per junction inc VAT
- Postcodes
- DA10
- Population
- about 16,000
- Area
- Kent
- Pricing region
- South East
What is the ground like in Kent?
Swanscombe, Kent: about 16,000 residents across postcode districts DA10. Neighbouring towns we cover: Gravesend (3 miles), Longfield (3 miles) and Dartford (4 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. Housing stock in Kent: Victorian terraces in the Medway towns, weatherboarded and Wealden houses, 1930s semis and seaside bungalows.
Is it time for extension pulling away repairs? Common signs
- Floor level dropping where the extension and house floors meet
- Patio doors or windows in the extension starting to bind
- Extension roof flashing lifting off the original wall
What should you budget for extension pulling away repairs in Swanscombe?
These are guide prices for Swanscombe, 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 |
Repair options we may recommend
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
What to expect when we carry out extension pulling away repairs
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.
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.
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.
Your extension pulling away repairs questions
How much will extension pulling away repairs cost in Swanscombe?
Guide prices for extension pulling away repairs in Swanscombe 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 cover Swanscombe?
Yes. We take enquiries from across Swanscombe, including DA10, and from nearby places such as Gravesend and Longfield. Send photos for a free initial view and we will tell you what happens next.
Is the ground in Kent prone to subsidence?
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.
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.
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.
Other structural repairs in Swanscombe
- Subsidence repairs
- Resin injection ground stabilisation
- Wall tie replacement
- Structural surveys and crack monitoring
- Chimney stack repairs
Extension pulling away repairs near Swanscombe
Send photos of the extension junction at your Swanscombe home, inside and out, and we will give a free initial assessment and a guide price.