What it is
Finding a crack can be worrying, especially in a home you've just bought or are about to. The good news is that most cracks are caused by things like shrinkage, small seasonal movement or old settlement that stopped long ago. The cracks that matter are the ones that are growing, are wider at one end, run diagonally from windows and doors, or come with sticking doors and sloping floors.
Whether you have concerns about cracking, movement, deterioration or alterations to an existing structure, we can provide practical engineering advice. We look at the pattern, the building and the ground, tell you what's causing it and how serious it is, and recommend what to do, which is often nothing more than keeping an eye on it.
When you need it
- New cracks have appeared, or old ones are getting wider
- Doors or windows have started sticking
- Floors feel uneven or sloping
- A Home Report or insurer has mentioned movement or subsidence
- Work nearby, a leaking drain or a large tree may be affecting your property
What we provide
- An inspection of the cracking and the structure around it
- An explanation of the likely cause, in plain English
- Advice on whether monitoring, repair, strengthening or further investigation is needed
- A written report for you, your insurer or your solicitor
- Repair design and specification where needed
How it works
- Discuss
Send us photos of the cracks with something for scale, and tell us when you first noticed them.
- Assess
We inspect the pattern of cracking, the building and its surroundings.
- Design
If repairs are needed, we develop a practical solution.
- Draw
You get a written report, and repair drawings if needed.
- Support
We can return to check monitoring results or inspect the repairs.
Typical deliverables
- Written report
- Crack monitoring advice
- Repair recommendations
- Repair drawings if needed
Questions people ask
Are cracks in my walls a sign of a structural problem?
Usually not. Many cracks come from shrinkage, temperature changes or long-finished settlement. Cracks that are wide, growing, diagonal or tapered, or that come with sticking doors and windows, are worth having inspected.
Draft answer for GCP to approveWhat should I do before you visit?
Photograph each crack with a ruler or coin for scale, note the date, and mark the ends lightly in pencil. That tells us whether it's moving. Don't fill or decorate over them until they've been looked at.
Draft answer for GCP to approveIs it subsidence?
Subsidence is downward movement of the ground under a building, and it's only one possible cause of cracking. We'll tell you whether the evidence points to it. If it does, contact your buildings insurer early.
Draft answer for GCP to approve