Bath · Somerset
Structural crack repairs in Bath
Whether your Bath 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£80per metre of crack inc VAT
- Postcodes
- BA1, BA2
- Population
- about 100,000
- Area
- Somerset
- Pricing region
- South West
How do local ground conditions affect structural crack repairs in Bath?
Bath, Somerset: about 100,000 residents across postcode districts BA1, BA2. Nearby places we cover include Keynsham (6 miles), Trowbridge (8 miles) and Kingswood (8 miles).
Parts of Somerset have clay that can shrink near trees in dry spells. Parts of Somerset lie on a former coalfield, so a coal mining search is worth checking if movement has no obvious cause. Typical buildings in Somerset: Bath stone Georgian terraces, Victorian houses in Taunton and Weston-super-Mare, and post-war estates.
Guide prices for structural crack repairs in Bath
For Bath we use South West rates. Treat the table as a budget guide, inc VAT; the price you pay is the one on your written quote.
| 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 |
Methods for structural crack repairs
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
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
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.
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.
Symptoms that point to structural crack repairs
- Doors or windows that have started sticking or no longer latch
- A crack noticeably wider at the top than the bottom, or the reverse
- Cracks that reappear in the same place after filling and painting
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.
Frequently asked questions
How much should I budget for structural crack repairs in Bath?
Guide prices for structural crack repairs in Bath 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.
Can you survey a property in Bath?
Yes. We take enquiries from across Bath, including BA1, BA2, and from nearby places such as Keynsham and Trowbridge. Send photos for a free initial view and we will tell you what happens next.
Why do houses in Somerset crack?
Somerset mixes Lias clays, Mercia Mudstone, limestone hills and the peat and alluvium of the Levels around Bridgwater, which can settle. The former Somerset coalfield around Radstock and Midsomer Norton left recorded workings. 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.
Can I just fill a crack and paint over it?
You can fill a fine crack that is not moving, and for many hairline cracks that is the right repair. Filling a crack that is still opening hides the evidence, and it will usually come back. If a filled crack returns within a year or two, have it assessed.
Related work in Bath
- Boundary and garden wall repairs
- Brick arch repairs
- Bowing wall repairs
- Concrete repairs
- Subsidence insurance claim repairs
Structural crack repairs near Bath
Each crack at your Bath property is priced separately in our written quote, so you can see exactly what you are paying for and why.