Surrey underpinning services
Crack stitching in Surrey
Crack stitching across Surrey.
About crack stitching
What crack stitching involves
Crack stitching repairs a cracked brick or stone wall by bonding stainless steel helical bars into the mortar joints across the crack. The bars tie the masonry back together. The crack is then grouted and repointed so the repair blends in.
It is meant for walls where the movement has stopped or the cause has already been dealt with. It often follows underpinning or tree removal, or stands alone where old settlement has left cracks behind. On Surrey cottages and Victorian villas it is also used to restore strength above window heads and at corners. Describe the cracks on the enquiry form, adding photos if you can, and a specialist will come back to you with a free quote for the repair.
How it works
How crack stitching works with us
Crack review
The specialist checks the crack pattern and any monitoring history to confirm the wall has stopped moving.
Slot cutting
Horizontal slots are cut into the bed joints at regular intervals, running well past each side of the crack.
Bar bedding
Stainless steel helical bars are set into the slots in a bonding grout, and the crack itself is filled.
Repointing
The slots and crack line are repointed in a mortar matched to the surrounding joints.
Cracks that suit a stitched repair
Does this sound like your home?
- Stepped cracks following the mortar joints through brickwork
- A crack that has been measured and is no longer widening
- Splits running up from window and door lintels
- Cracks left behind once underpinning has steadied the footing
- Bricks that have cracked through, not just the mortar around them
- Repointing that keeps opening along the same line
Looking after it
Looking after it afterwards
- Keep a dated photo record of any remaining hairline cracks so you have a baseline to compare against.
- Keep guttering, downpipes and drains clear and in good repair, leaking water is a common trigger for further movement.
- Avoid planting fast-growing trees or shrubs close to the property without taking advice first.
- Keep your engineer's report and any completion paperwork safe, they matter for future insurance, remortgaging or sale.
What you get
Getting movement sorted across Surrey
Prices set out in writing. The specialist firm puts its quote on paper before any work starts.
Findings you can keep. The specialist firm records the cause in writing, handy for insurers and buyers.
Local ground, local firms. Specialists who work across Surrey and know its clay and chalk.
Your decision, your pace. Read the quote, ask questions, and walk away if it does not suit.
What's involved
Why bars rather than filler
Filler alone tends to reopen
Mortar or filler pushed into a crack adds no strength, so the wall can open again. Bars set across the line carry tension and spread the load over a wider area of brickwork.
Movement must be settled first
Stitching does not stop subsidence. If the ground is still moving, the specialist will say so and suggest the cause is tackled before any bars go in.
A finish that suits the wall
The repointing is mixed to match the existing mortar. Lime is used on older, softer brick, where cement would trap moisture.
Crack stitching across Surrey
Specialists handle crack stitching for homes in Camberley · Caterham · Egham · Epsom · Guildford · Reigate · Walton-on-Thames · Woking and many more areas around Surrey, from cracked bay windows to conservatories pulling away from the house.
What we cover
Related underpinning services
Questions we hear
Before you ask
What do subsidence cracks look like compared with ordinary cracks?
Subsidence cracks are typically diagonal, wider at one end, and visible on both the inside and outside of the same wall. Hairline cracks in fresh plaster or along ceiling joins are more often shrinkage and are rarely structural.
Can crack stitching be done from inside the house?
Yes. Bars can go into internal masonry walls as well as external ones. Where a crack runs right through, both faces are often stitched, and the plaster is made good afterwards.
Will the repair show once it is finished?
The slots and crack are repointed in a mortar chosen to match, so the line is usually hard to pick out. It may take a season or two of weathering to blend in completely.
How long do I have to declare past subsidence to an insurer?
Insurers word this differently. Some ask whether the property has ever been affected, while others limit the question to a set number of years. Read the proposal form carefully, answer exactly what it asks, and keep repair paperwork to hand.