Godalming · Surrey
Subsidence repairs in Godalming
If doors have started sticking in your Godalming home and new cracks have appeared, it is worth acting before they widen. We can look at photos first and tell you whether an engineer, a drain survey or your insurer should be the next call.
Guide price from£2,800per property inc VAT
- Postcodes
- GU7
- Population
- about 23,000
- Area
- Surrey
- Pricing region
- South East
Is Surrey prone to ground movement?
We cover Godalming and its postcode districts GU7, part of Surrey, with a population of roughly 23,000. Neighbouring towns we cover: Guildford (4 miles), Haslemere (8 miles) and Aldershot (8 miles).
Shrinkable clay is widespread in Surrey. Ground movement here is more often linked to soils, drains and trees than to mining. Housing stock in Surrey: Victorian and Edwardian villas, 1930s semis and detached houses in the commuter towns, and post-war estates.
Symptoms that point to subsidence repairs
- Doors and windows that start to stick or no longer close
- A gap opening between the skirting board and the floor
- Cracks that open in summer and partly close again in winter
Guide prices for subsidence repairs in Godalming
Guide prices below are for homes in Godalming, on South East 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 | £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 |
Methods for subsidence repairs
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
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
From first photo to finished repair
Find the cause
An independent chartered structural engineer inspects the house and, where needed, arranges a drain survey, trial pits or soil tests. We can arrange the engineer. The aim is to know what is moving, and why, before money goes on repairs.
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.
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.
Frequently asked questions
How much will subsidence repairs cost in Godalming?
Guide prices for subsidence repairs in Godalming 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 cover Godalming?
We do. Godalming and the surrounding area are covered, including nearby Guildford and Haslemere. A free initial assessment from your photos is the first step.
Is the ground in Surrey prone to subsidence?
North Surrey sits on London Clay, the south on Weald Clay, with chalk along the North Downs and sands in the west. Large gardens with mature trees on clay make seasonal subsidence a familiar problem. 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.
Does subsidence always need underpinning?
No, most subsidence is repaired without underpinning. When a leaking drain is fixed or nearby vegetation is managed, the ground usually stabilises and the house needs only crack repairs. Foundation work is kept for movement that continues after the cause has gone.
Other structural repairs in Godalming
- Crack stitching
- Bowing wall repairs
- Resin injection ground stabilisation
- Concrete repairs
- Roof structure repairs
Subsidence repairs near Godalming
Photos of the inside and outside of the cracked wall are the quickest way to start; send them and we will reply about your Godalming home with a guide price.