Chichester · West Sussex
Subsidence repairs in Chichester
Cracks in a house in Chichester are not always subsidence, and subsidence is not always serious. The first job is to find out what is moving and why, whether that is a leaking drain, a nearby tree or soft ground under shallow footings.
Guide price from£2,800per property inc VAT
- Postcodes
- PO19
- Population
- about 32,000
- Area
- West Sussex
- Pricing region
- South East
What is the ground like in West Sussex?
Postcode districts PO19 cover Chichester, a West Sussex town of about 32,000 people. Nearby, we also cover Bognor Regis (6 miles), Emsworth (7 miles) and Hayling Island (9 miles).
West Sussex is one of the parts of the UK where clay soils are most likely to move with the seasons. Ground movement here is more often linked to soils, drains and trees than to mining. What you mostly find across West Sussex: Wealden cottages, 1930s semis and bungalows on the coast, and new-town estates in Crawley.
Signs you may need subsidence repairs
- Wallpaper rippling or tearing where the wall meets the ceiling
- Doors and windows that start to stick or no longer close
- Diagonal cracks wider at the top, running from window or door corners
How much will subsidence repairs cost in Chichester?
The ranges below reflect typical South East costs for subsidence repairs, including VAT. Scaffold, access and making good can push a job to the top of the range.
| 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 |
Which repair method suits a home in Chichester?
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 happens when we carry out subsidence repairs in Chichester?
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.
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.
Subsidence repairs in Chichester: questions and answers
How much will subsidence repairs cost in Chichester?
Guide prices for subsidence repairs in Chichester 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 Chichester?
Yes. We take enquiries from across Chichester, including PO19, and from nearby places such as Bognor Regis and Emsworth. Send photos for a free initial view and we will tell you what happens next.
Is the ground in West Sussex prone to subsidence?
North West Sussex around Crawley and Horsham sits on Weald Clay, the South Downs are chalk, and the coastal plain has brickearth and gravels. The Weald Clay is prone to shrink-swell movement near trees. Only an investigation can say why a particular building has moved.
Can I sell a house that has had subsidence?
Yes, though buyers and lenders will want paperwork. Keep the engineer’s report, monitoring results, the repair specification and any building control sign-off. A repaired house shown to be stable is far easier to sell than one with an open problem.
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.
Other structural repairs in Chichester
- Wall tie replacement
- Roof structure repairs
- Crack stitching
- Retaining wall repairs
- Structural surveys and crack monitoring
Subsidence repairs near Chichester
If your insurer is already involved, send us the loss adjuster’s schedule for your Chichester property and we will price the repairs to it in writing.