Cardiff · South Glamorgan
Subsidence repairs in Cardiff
Whatever the ground is like under Cardiff, 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£2,300per property inc VAT
- Postcodes
- CF10, CF11, CF24
- Population
- about 370,000
- Area
- South Glamorgan
- Pricing region
- Wales
What is the ground like in South Glamorgan?
Cardiff (CF10, CF11, CF24) has around 370,000 residents and sits in South Glamorgan. Nearby, we also cover Penarth (3 miles), Caerphilly (7 miles) and Barry (7 miles).
South Glamorgan has a mix of ground, with clay in some places and firmer rock in others. Ground movement here is more often linked to soils, drains and trees than to mining. Housing stock in South Glamorgan: Victorian terraces in Cardiff and Penarth, inter-war semis and post-war estates.
What should you budget for subsidence repairs in Cardiff?
Guide prices below are for homes in Cardiff, on Wales rates and including VAT. A survey or good photos let us turn them into a fixed written price.
| Item | Guide price | Per |
|---|---|---|
| Structural engineer's investigation and report | £460 – £1,850 | per property |
| CCTV drain survey (common first check) | £140 – £320 | per survey |
| Typical repair once the cause is dealt with: crack stitching and making goodest. | £2,300 – £11,000 | per property |
| Foundation strengthening where it is needed (see underpinning) | £920 – £3,200 | per metre of wall |
Repair options we may recommend
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
Crack stitching and making good
Once movement has stopped, cracked brickwork is cut along the bed joints, stainless helical bars are bonded in to tie the wall together, and the joints are repointed to match. Inside, plaster is renewed along the crack line before redecoration.
Best for: Category 1 to 3 cracking in walls that are otherwise sound
What to expect when we carry out subsidence repairs
Deal with the cause
Drains are repaired, vegetation is managed on the engineer’s advice, or a foundation scheme is designed if nothing else will work. Where monitoring is recommended, readings run for several months to show the movement has stopped.
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
- A gap opening between the skirting board and the floor
- Doors and windows that start to stick or no longer close
- Wallpaper rippling or tearing where the wall meets the ceiling
Rules for subsidence repairs in Wales
In Wales, the Welsh version of the Building Regulations applies. Underpinning and other work that alters or strengthens the structure needs building control approval and inspection; like-for-like repairs often do not. The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 applies to work on party walls and excavation close to a neighbour’s foundations.
Your subsidence repairs questions
What is the price of subsidence repairs in Cardiff?
Guide prices for subsidence repairs in Cardiff start from about £2,300 per property, 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 carry out subsidence repairs in Cardiff?
We do. Cardiff and the surrounding area are covered, including nearby Penarth and Caerphilly. A free initial assessment from your photos is the first step.
Does the ground around Cardiff cause cracking?
Cardiff is built on Mercia Mudstone, river gravels and alluvium, and the Vale of Glamorgan on Lias limestone and clay. Soft alluvium near the rivers and docks can settle. Only an investigation can say why a particular building has moved.
Will past subsidence affect my home insurance?
It can, because insurers ask about previous subsidence at renewal or when you switch. Staying with the insurer who handled a claim is often simplest. Answer any new insurer’s questions honestly and keep the repair records, which show the problem was dealt with.
Do you need to visit before giving a price?
Not at first. We give a free initial assessment from your photos or a call, and a no-obligation written quote once the scope is clear. A fixed price follows in writing once the repair is specified, which normally needs a survey.
More repairs we carry out in Cardiff
- Chimney stack repairs
- Underpinning
- Roof structure repairs
- Resin injection ground stabilisation
- Crack stitching
Subsidence repairs near Cardiff
If your insurer is already involved, send us the loss adjuster’s schedule for your Cardiff property and we will price the repairs to it in writing.