Swansea · West Glamorgan
Structural crack repairs in Swansea
Cracks in walls in Swansea 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£75per metre of crack inc VAT
- Postcodes
- SA1, SA2, SA5
- Population
- about 300,000
- Area
- West Glamorgan
- Pricing region
- Wales
How do local ground conditions affect structural crack repairs in Swansea?
Swansea is in West Glamorgan and takes in postcode districts SA1, SA2, SA5. About 300,000 people live there. If you are just outside Swansea, we also cover Clydach (5 miles), Gorseinon (5 miles) and Neath (7 miles).
Parts of West Glamorgan have clay that can shrink near trees in dry spells. Historic coal workings are recorded beneath parts of West Glamorgan, and a coal mining search is worth checking where movement is unexplained. Housing stock in West Glamorgan: Hillside terraces, Victorian villas in Swansea and post-war estates.
What happens when we carry out structural crack repairs in Swansea?
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.
Signs you may need structural crack repairs
- A crack noticeably wider at the top than the bottom, or the reverse
- Cracks that reappear in the same place after filling and painting
- Stepped cracks zigzagging through the mortar joints of outside brickwork
How much will structural crack repairs cost in Swansea?
For Swansea we use Wales 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 | £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 |
Which repair method suits a home in Swansea?
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
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.
Structural crack repairs in Swansea: questions and answers
How much will structural crack repairs cost in Swansea?
Guide prices for structural crack repairs in Swansea 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 Swansea?
Yes, Swansea is covered, along with postcode districts SA1, SA2, SA5. We also cover nearby Clydach and Gorseinon.
Is the ground in West Glamorgan prone to subsidence?
Swansea and Neath Port Talbot lie on the South Wales coalfield, with historic workings, tips and steep valley sides, and softer estuarine ground around the docks. 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 Swansea
- Retaining wall repairs
- Subsidence insurance claim repairs
- Brick arch repairs
- Roof structure repairs
- Structural surveys and crack monitoring
Structural crack repairs near Swansea
If a crack in Swansea keeps coming back, send photos taken a few weeks apart and we will help you work out whether it is still moving.