Wandsworth · Greater London
Underpinning in Wandsworth
If an engineer has recommended underpinning for your Wandsworth home, we can price the scheme from their drawings and calculations. You receive a fixed price in writing that covers the method, the length of wall, access and the making good afterwards.
Guide price from£1,250per metre of wall inc VAT
- Postcodes
- SW6, SW11, SW15, SW17, SW18
- Population
- about 330,000
- Area
- Greater London
- Pricing region
- London
What is the ground like in Greater London?
Wandsworth takes in postcode districts including SW6, SW11, SW15, SW17, SW18, with about 330,000 residents. Nearby, we also cover Hammersmith and Fulham (3 miles), Lambeth (3 miles) and Kensington and Chelsea (3 miles).
Shrinkable clay is widespread in Greater London. Ground movement here is more often linked to soils, drains and trees than to mining. Typical buildings in Greater London: Victorian and Edwardian terraces with shallow footings, inter-war semis in the outer boroughs, and converted flats and mansion blocks.
Underpinning prices in Wandsworth
For Wandsworth we use London 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Mass-concrete underpinning | £1,250 – £1,900 | per metre of wall |
| Beam-and-base underpinning | £1,900 – £3,100 | per metre of wall |
| Mini-piled underpinning | £2,500 – £4,400 | per metre of wall |
| Engineer's design and building control feesest. | £1,000 – £3,100 | per scheme |
How we usually approach underpinning
Mass concrete underpinning
The traditional method. Short sections under the wall are dug out in a set sequence, usually about a metre at a time, and filled with concrete before the next section is opened. It suits moderate depths and good access, and it needs little specialist plant.
Best for: Shallow failures on firm ground found at moderate depth
Mini-piled underpinning
Small-diameter piles are driven or bored down to firm ground and linked by a reinforced beam or needles that pick up the wall. Compact rigs fit through narrow access, and the method reaches depths that would be impractical to excavate by hand.
Best for: Deep soft ground, tree roots, or restricted access
What happens during underpinning, step by step?
Engineer’s investigation
An independent chartered structural engineer studies the monitoring results, trial pits and soil tests, then decides whether underpinning is needed and which method suits. We can arrange the engineer if you do not already have one.
Fixed written price
With the design in hand we confirm a fixed price in writing, setting out the method, the length of wall, access arrangements and the making good. For insurance work we can price to the loss adjuster’s or engineer’s schedule.
Excavation and concrete
Work runs in the sequence the engineer sets so the wall is never left unsupported over a long length. Building control inspects the excavations before concrete goes in, and each section is dry-packed tight to the footing above.
What to look for before calling about underpinning
- A large tree nearby that cannot be removed or reduced
- Floors sloping noticeably towards one external wall
- Footings found to be very shallow during a trial pit
Rules for underpinning 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.
Questions about underpinning in Wandsworth
How much will underpinning cost in Wandsworth?
Guide prices for underpinning in Wandsworth start from about £1,250 per metre of wall, including VAT, on London rates. Your fixed written price follows photos or a survey and depends on the extent of the work and access.
Do you cover Wandsworth?
Yes. We take enquiries from across Wandsworth, including SW6, SW11, SW15, SW17, and from nearby places such as Hammersmith and Fulham and Lambeth. Send photos for a free initial view and we will tell you what happens next.
Is the ground in Greater London prone to subsidence?
Most of Greater London sits on London Clay, among the most shrinkage-prone ground in the UK, with river gravels along the Thames. Subsidence claims here are among the most frequent in the country, especially after dry summers and near street and garden trees. Only an investigation can say why a particular building has moved.
Can you underpin only part of a house?
Yes, partial underpinning of one corner or one wall is common, though the engineer must think about the junction with the unstrengthened part. A sudden change in foundation depth can cause new cracking, so the scheme may step down gradually or include a movement joint.
Does my house really need underpinning?
Often not, because most subsidence is fixed by repairing drains or managing trees and then repairing the cracks. Underpinning is justified when monitoring shows movement continuing after the cause has been dealt with, or when the ground itself is unsuitable. An independent engineer should make that call.
Other structural repairs in Wandsworth
- Wall tie replacement
- Extension pulling away repairs
- Roof structure repairs
- Retaining wall repairs
- Subsidence insurance claim repairs
Underpinning near Wandsworth
Have an engineer’s underpinning design for your Wandsworth property? Send it over and we will return a fixed price in writing once the scheme is specified.