Faversham · Kent
Subsidence repairs in Faversham
Whatever the ground is like under Faversham, the order of work for subsidence stays the same. Confirm the cause, deal with it, check the movement has stopped, and only then repair the walls so the cracks do not simply return.
Guide price from£2,800per property inc VAT
- Postcodes
- ME13
- Population
- about 23,000
- Area
- Kent
- Pricing region
- South East
What should you know about the ground under Faversham?
We cover Faversham and its postcode districts ME13, part of Kent, with a population of roughly 23,000. Nearby, we also cover Whitstable (7 miles), Sittingbourne (7 miles) and Canterbury (9 miles).
Shrinkable clay is widespread in Kent. Parts of Kent lie on a former coalfield, so a coal mining search is worth checking if movement has no obvious cause. Housing stock in Kent: Victorian terraces in the Medway towns, weatherboarded and Wealden houses, 1930s semis and seaside bungalows.
What to expect when we carry out subsidence repairs
Send photos or call
Send photos of the cracks with a coin or tape for scale, and say when you first noticed them. We give a free initial assessment and suggest whether an engineer, a drain survey or your insurer comes first.
Written quote
We price the agreed repair and confirm a fixed price in writing once it is specified. If there is an insurance claim, we can price to the loss adjuster’s or engineer’s schedule instead of our own scope.
Repairs and making good
Cracks are stitched and repointed outside, plaster is renewed along the crack lines inside, and sticking doors are eased. Where the work needs it, we deal with building control and hand over the paperwork.
Is it time for subsidence repairs? Common signs
- Fresh cracks showing on both the inside and outside of one wall
- Cracks that open in summer and partly close again in winter
- Doors and windows that start to stick or no longer close
What should you budget for subsidence repairs in Faversham?
Prices in Faversham 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Structural engineer's investigation and report | £560 – £2,250 | per property |
| CCTV drain survey (common first check) | £170 – £390 | per survey |
| Typical repair once the cause is dealt with: crack stitching and making goodest. | £2,800 – £13,400 | per property |
| Foundation strengthening where it is needed (see underpinning) | £1,100 – £3,900 | per metre of wall |
Repair options we may recommend
Remove the cause, then repair
Most subsidence is dealt with this way. The drain is repaired or the vegetation managed, the house is watched to confirm it has stabilised, and then the cracks are stitched, repointed and made good inside. It is the least disruptive route and usually the cheapest.
Best for: Clay movement or drain leaks where the cause can be removed
Foundation strengthening
Where the ground cannot be made stable, the load is carried down to firmer soil by underpinning, a beam-and-base scheme, mini-piles or resin injection, depending on the soil and access. It is designed by an engineer and is the exception, not the rule.
Best for: Ongoing movement where removing the cause has not worked
Rules for subsidence repairs in England
In England, underpinning and other work that alters or strengthens a wall or foundation is building work under the Building Regulations (Part A, structure), so building control approves and inspects it. Like-for-like repairs often are not, and we tell you which applies before a price is agreed. Work to a party wall, or excavation close to a neighbour’s foundations, can also need a notice under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996.
Your subsidence repairs questions
What is the price of subsidence repairs in Faversham?
Guide prices for subsidence repairs in Faversham start from about £2,800 per property, including VAT, on South East rates. Your fixed written price follows photos or a survey and depends on the extent of the work and access.
Do you carry out subsidence repairs in Faversham?
Yes. We take enquiries from across Faversham, including ME13, and from nearby places such as Whitstable and Sittingbourne. Send photos for a free initial view and we will tell you what happens next.
Does the ground around Faversham cause cracking?
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. Only an investigation can say why a particular building has moved.
Should I cut down the tree near my house?
Not without advice, because felling a mature tree on clay can make things worse. As the roots stop drawing water, the clay swells and can lift the foundations, which is called heave. Pruning or staged removal may be advised instead. Check whether the tree is protected.
How do I know if cracks are subsidence?
Subsidence cracks are usually tapered, run diagonally from door and window corners, and show on both faces of the wall. Fine vertical cracks in new plaster are more often shrinkage. An engineer’s inspection, sometimes with monitoring, is the reliable way to tell.
More repairs we carry out in Faversham
- Floor joist repairs
- Brick arch repairs
- Mining subsidence repairs
- Bay window subsidence repairs
- Bowing wall repairs
Subsidence repairs near Faversham
Worried about movement at your Faversham property? Share photos or ring for a free initial assessment before you spend anything on investigations.