Belfast · County Antrim
Structural crack repairs in Belfast
Cracks in walls in Belfast come in many shapes, and the shape usually says more than the size. We assess stepped, vertical, horizontal and tapered cracks from your photos first, then explain whether yours looks cosmetic or needs a closer look.
Guide price from£70per metre of crack inc VAT
- Postcodes
- BT1, BT2, BT7
- Population
- about 350,000
- Area
- County Antrim
- Pricing region
- Northern Ireland
What is the ground like in County Antrim?
We cover Belfast and its postcode districts BT1, BT2, BT7, part of County Antrim, with a population of roughly 350,000. Nearby places we cover include Newtownabbey (4 miles), Lisburn (7 miles) and Carrickfergus (10 miles).
Most of County Antrim is on firmer ground than the clay belts of the south-east. Historic brine and salt working has caused ground movement in parts of County Antrim in the past. Across County Antrim, most homes are red-brick terraces in Belfast, Victorian villas, and post-war and newer estates.
Repair options we may recommend
Filling and repointing
For hairline and narrow cracks that have stopped moving, the crack line is raked out and repointed in mortar matched to the original for strength, colour and texture. Inside, plaster cracks are cut out, filled with a flexible filler and redecorated.
Best for: Cracks up to about 5 mm that are no longer moving
Crack stitching with helical bars
Stainless steel helical bars are grouted into slots cut along the bed joints, bridging the crack so the masonry works as one piece again. It is the standard repair for wider stepped and vertical cracks once whatever caused them has stopped.
Best for: Stable cracks wider than about 5 mm, or ones that keep reopening
What to expect when we carry out structural crack repairs
Survey and record
On site we measure the width along the crack, note its pattern and check nearby drains, trees and openings. If the cause is unclear, gauges can be fixed across it and read over several months.
Deal with the cause
Leaking drains, failed ties, a sagging lintel or ground movement are put right first, sometimes through an insurance claim. Repairing a crack before its cause is fixed usually means paying for the same job twice.
Repair and make good
Cracks are stitched, repointed or rebuilt as specified, with mortar matched to the existing wall. Internal crack lines are filled and redecorated where included, and you get a written note of what was done.
Is it time for structural crack repairs? Common signs
- Daylight or a draught coming through a crack in an outside wall
- Stepped cracks zigzagging through the mortar joints of outside brickwork
- Doors or windows that have started sticking or no longer latch
What should you budget for structural crack repairs in Belfast?
These are guide prices for Belfast, using Northern Ireland rates and including VAT. Your written quote follows photos or a survey, and is fixed once the repair is specified.
| Item | Guide price | Per |
|---|---|---|
| Crack stitching with helical bars | £70 – £160 | per metre of crack |
| Single crack, outside only (up to about 2 m)est. | £350 – £790 | per crack |
| Internal making good and redecoration of the crack lineest. | £130 – £440 | per room |
Rules for structural crack repairs in Northern Ireland
In Northern Ireland, minor repairs usually need no approval, but structural work comes under the Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 and council building control. There is no Party Wall Act in Northern Ireland.
Your structural crack repairs questions
How much will structural crack repairs cost in Belfast?
Guide prices for structural crack repairs in Belfast start from about £70 per metre of crack, including VAT, on Northern Ireland rates. Your fixed written price follows photos or a survey and depends on the extent of the work and access.
Do you cover Belfast?
Yes, Belfast is covered, along with postcode districts BT1, BT2, BT7. We also cover nearby Newtownabbey and Lisburn.
Is the ground in County Antrim prone to subsidence?
County Antrim is largely basalt over chalk, with soft estuarine 'sleech' along Belfast Lough that is notorious for settlement. Historic salt mining is recorded near Carrickfergus. Only an investigation can say why a particular building has moved.
What do stepped cracks in brickwork mean?
Stepped cracks usually mean part of the wall has moved and the weakest path, the mortar joints, has given way. They are common with subsidence and around openings. A thin stepped crack unchanged for years is often cosmetic, while a wide or tapered one should be looked at.
Do I need a structural engineer for a cracked wall?
Not always, since many cracks can be judged from photos and a visit. An engineer is worthwhile when cracks are wide, tapered, growing or part of a claim. Where the repair needs an engineer’s design or sign-off, an independent chartered structural engineer is appointed, and we can arrange this.
Other structural repairs in Belfast
- Bay window subsidence repairs
- Bowing wall repairs
- Crack stitching
- Floor joist repairs
- Chimney stack repairs
Structural crack repairs near Belfast
If a crack in Belfast keeps coming back, send photos taken a few weeks apart and we will help you work out whether it is still moving.