Bournemouth · Dorset
Structural crack repairs in Bournemouth
Cracks in walls in Bournemouth 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£80per metre of crack inc VAT
- Postcodes
- BH1, BH2, BH4
- Population
- about 160,000
- Area
- Dorset
- Pricing region
- South West
How do local ground conditions affect structural crack repairs in Bournemouth?
Bournemouth is in Dorset and takes in postcode districts BH1, BH2, BH4. About 160,000 people live there. If you are just outside Bournemouth, we also cover Christchurch (4 miles), Poole (5 miles) and Ferndown (6 miles).
Parts of Dorset have clay that can shrink near trees in dry spells. Ground movement here is more often linked to soils, drains and trees than to mining. Across Dorset, most homes are stone and brick villages, Victorian villas in Bournemouth, and inter-war and post-war semis.
Signs you may need structural crack repairs
- Cracks that reappear in the same place after filling and painting
- A crack noticeably wider at the top than the bottom, or the reverse
- Daylight or a draught coming through a crack in an outside wall
How much will structural crack repairs cost 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Crack stitching with helical bars | £80 – £185 | per metre of crack |
| Single crack, outside only (up to about 2 m)est. | £410 – £925 | per crack |
| Internal making good and redecoration of the crack lineest. | £155 – £515 | per room |
Which repair method suits a home in Bournemouth?
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 happens when we carry out structural crack repairs in Bournemouth?
Send photos
Photograph the crack from a distance and close up, with a coin or tape measure for scale. From these we say whether it looks cosmetic, needs a visit or calls for an engineer.
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.
Written quote
You receive a no-obligation written quote listing each crack, the repair method chosen for it and the making good inside and out. Once the scope is settled, that becomes a fixed price in writing.
Rules for structural crack repairs in England
Like-for-like repairs such as crack stitching and repointing do not usually need building control approval in England, but anything that changes or strengthens the structure, such as underpinning or rebuilding a wall, does. If the work touches a party wall, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 may apply.
Structural crack repairs in Bournemouth: questions and answers
How much will structural crack repairs cost in Bournemouth?
Guide prices for structural crack repairs in Bournemouth start from about £80 per metre of crack, 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.
Do you cover 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.
Is the ground in Dorset prone to subsidence?
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.
Should I tell my insurer about cracks in my house?
Yes, if you think the cracks could come from subsidence or heave, tell your insurer before any permanent repair, because repairing first can make a claim harder to prove. Cracks from normal shrinkage or ageing are not usually covered, and the insurer decides which applies.
What causes vertical cracks in walls?
Vertical cracks are most often caused by thermal or moisture movement in long walls, or by the joint between old and newer work. An even-width vertical crack is usually cosmetic. One clearly wider at the top or bottom can indicate foundation movement at one end.
Other structural repairs in Bournemouth
- Bowing wall repairs
- Subsidence repairs
- Resin injection ground stabilisation
- Floor joist repairs
- Bay window subsidence repairs
Structural crack repairs near Bournemouth
If a crack in Bournemouth keeps coming back, send photos taken a few weeks apart and we will help you work out whether it is still moving.