Bridgend · Mid Glamorgan
Structural crack repairs in Bridgend
A cracked wall in Bridgend does not automatically mean subsidence. Thermal movement, rusting wall ties, tired lintels and old drains each leave their own pattern, and we look at the whole picture before recommending any repair to the brickwork.
Guide price from£75per metre of crack inc VAT
- Postcodes
- CF31, CF35
- Population
- about 50,000
- Area
- Mid Glamorgan
- Pricing region
- Wales
What is the ground like in Mid Glamorgan?
Bridgend is in Mid Glamorgan and takes in postcode districts CF31, CF35. About 50,000 people live there. If you are just outside Bridgend, we also cover Porthcawl (6 miles), Llantwit Major (8 miles) and Maesteg (8 miles).
Clay soils are found in parts of Mid Glamorgan. Historic coal workings are recorded beneath parts of Mid Glamorgan, and a coal mining search is worth checking where movement is unexplained. Housing stock in Mid Glamorgan: Long stone and brick terraces on valley sides, Victorian houses in Bridgend and post-war estates.
What to look for before calling about structural crack repairs
- A crack noticeably wider at the top than the bottom, or the reverse
- Stepped cracks zigzagging through the mortar joints of outside brickwork
- Diagonal cracks running from the corners of windows and doors
Structural crack repairs prices in Bridgend
These are guide prices for Bridgend, using Wales 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 | £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 |
How we usually approach structural crack repairs
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
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
What happens during structural crack repairs, step by step?
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.
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.
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.
Questions about structural crack repairs in Bridgend
How much will structural crack repairs cost in Bridgend?
Guide prices for structural crack repairs in Bridgend 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.
Do you cover Bridgend?
We do. Bridgend and the surrounding area are covered, including nearby Porthcawl and Llantwit Major. A free initial assessment from your photos is the first step.
Is the ground in Mid Glamorgan prone to subsidence?
Mid Glamorgan lies on the South Wales coalfield, with dense historic workings, spoil tips and steep valley sides. Landslip, retaining walls and mining legacy are all live issues in the valleys. Only an investigation can say why a particular building has moved.
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.
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.
Other structural repairs in Bridgend
- Crack stitching
- Lintel replacement
- Chimney stack repairs
- Mining subsidence repairs
- Extension pulling away repairs
Structural crack repairs near Bridgend
Send photos of the crack at your Bridgend property, close up and from a distance, for a free initial assessment and a no-obligation written quote.