Caernarfon · Gwynedd
Structural crack repairs in Caernarfon
Whether your Caernarfon home is a Victorian terrace or a post-war semi, a crack follows the weakest line through the masonry. Reading that line correctly is the difference between a repair that lasts and one that splits open again next summer.
Guide price from£75per metre of crack inc VAT
- Postcodes
- LL55
- Population
- about 10,000
- Area
- Gwynedd
- Pricing region
- Wales
Is Gwynedd prone to ground movement?
Caernarfon (LL55) has around 10,000 residents and sits in Gwynedd. Nearby places we cover include Llangefni (8 miles), Bangor (9 miles) and Pwllheli (18 miles).
Clay shrinkage is less of a concern in Gwynedd, so other causes such as drains, poor footings or older walls are checked first. Old metal-mine shafts and workings are recorded in places, so mining searches are routine for some properties. Housing stock in Gwynedd: Slate and stone terraces, chapels and cottages, Victorian seaside houses and post-war estates.
Symptoms that point to structural crack repairs
- Daylight or a draught coming through a crack in an outside wall
- Diagonal cracks running from the corners of windows and doors
- Stepped cracks zigzagging through the mortar joints of outside brickwork
Guide prices for structural crack repairs in Caernarfon
Guide prices below are for homes in Caernarfon, on Wales 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 | £75 – £165 | per metre of crack |
| Single crack, outside only (up to about 2 m)est. | £370 – £830 | per crack |
| Internal making good and redecoration of the crack lineest. | £140 – £460 | per room |
Methods for structural crack repairs
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
From first photo to finished repair
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.
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.
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.
Rules for structural crack repairs in Wales
In Wales, small like-for-like repairs do not usually need approval, but work that alters or strengthens the structure needs building control under the Welsh Building Regulations, and the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 can apply to shared walls.
Frequently asked questions
How much should I budget for structural crack repairs in Caernarfon?
Guide prices for structural crack repairs in Caernarfon start from about £75 per metre of crack, including VAT, on Wales 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 Caernarfon?
Yes, Caernarfon is covered, along with postcode districts LL55. We also cover nearby Llangefni and Bangor.
Why do houses in Gwynedd crack?
Gwynedd and Anglesey are mostly hard rock with glacial deposits, so clay shrinkage is uncommon. Historic slate quarrying and metal mining have left tips and workings in places. Only an investigation can say why a particular building has moved.
When is a crack in a wall structural?
A crack is more likely to be structural when it is wider than about 5 mm, tapers, passes through the whole wall or keeps growing. BRE Digest 251 treats damage up to about 5 mm as aesthetic and over 25 mm as a stability concern. Width is a guide, not a diagnosis.
Are horizontal cracks in a wall serious?
Horizontal cracks are often more serious than vertical ones, because they suggest the wall is being pushed or lifted. Cracks repeating every few courses point to rusting wall ties, while one long crack with a bulge may mean lost restraint.
Related work in Caernarfon
- Structural surveys and crack monitoring
- Bay window subsidence repairs
- Floor joist repairs
- Subsidence repairs
- Lintel replacement
Structural crack repairs near Caernarfon
Get a free initial assessment of cracked walls in Caernarfon from your photos or a call, then a fixed price in writing once the repair is specified.