Kent · England
Structural crack repairs in Kent
We carry out structural crack repairs across Kent, from the larger towns to smaller places nearby. Shrinkable clay is widespread in Kent. Every job starts with the cause, then the repair is specified to match it.
Guide price from£90per metre of crack inc VAT
- Area
- Kent
- Pricing region
- South East
- Ground
- Shrinkable clay widespread
- Towns listed
- 22
How do local ground conditions affect structural crack repairs in Kent?
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.
Parts of Kent lie on a former coalfield, so a coal mining search is worth checking if movement has no obvious cause. Across Kent, most homes are Victorian terraces in the Medway towns, weatherboarded and Wealden houses, 1930s semis and seaside bungalows.
What should you budget for structural crack repairs in Kent?
Prices in Kent are worked out on South East rates. They include VAT and are a starting point: access, the extent of the damage and whether an engineer or building control is involved all move the figure.
| Item | Guide price | Per |
|---|---|---|
| Crack stitching with helical bars | £90 – £200 | per metre of crack |
| Single crack, outside only (up to about 2 m)est. | £450 – £1,000 | per crack |
| Internal making good and redecoration of the crack lineest. | £170 – £560 | per room |
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
Rebuilding a cracked section
Where bricks have split or the wall has moved out of line, the damaged area is taken down and rebuilt, bonded into sound masonry on either side. Reclaimed or matched bricks keep the repair discreet, with temporary support used where needed.
Best for: Badly displaced or broken brickwork
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
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.
Is it time for structural crack repairs? Common signs
- Stepped cracks zigzagging through the mortar joints of outside brickwork
- A crack noticeably wider at the top than the bottom, or the reverse
- Diagonal cracks running from the corners of windows and doors
- Cracks that reappear in the same place after filling and painting
Do you need approval 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.
Towns in Kent we cover for structural crack repairs
- Maidstone
- Gillingham
- Tunbridge Wells
- Folkestone
- Margate
- Ashford
- Canterbury
- Sittingbourne
- Gravesend
- Dartford
- Ramsgate
- Dover
- Tonbridge
- Strood
- Whitstable
- Deal
- Sevenoaks
- Herne Bay
- Faversham
- Swanley
- Longfield
- Swanscombe
Your structural crack repairs questions
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. Parts of Kent lie on a former coalfield, so a coal mining search is worth checking if movement has no obvious cause. Only an investigation on site can say why a particular building has moved.
How much will structural crack repairs cost in Kent?
On South East rates, structural crack repairs starts from about £90 per metre of crack, including VAT. The written price depends on the extent of the damage, access and whether an engineer or building control is needed.
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.
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.
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.