Across Kent
House stabilising services in Kent
Describe what you have noticed in your home and find out which type of specialist work applies. Sending an enquiry costs nothing and carries no obligation to proceed with any firm.
Report a problem with your home Read about wall cracks first
Finding Out What the Movement Means
A structural movement survey is usually the first step when a crack appears or a door starts sticking. The specialist visits the home, measures the openings, checks the walls for distortion and records where the ground has shifted.
They look at the soil beneath the footings, the drainage runs nearby and any trees that might be drawing moisture from the earth. The report sets out whether the movement is ongoing or happened once and stopped.
You receive a written account of what they found and what should happen next. That might mean monitoring the crack over several months, investigating the drains or moving straight to stabilisation work. Read more about what a structural movement survey involves.
Watching a Crack Over Time
Some cracks need to be measured repeatedly before anyone can say whether the ground is still moving. A specialist fixes small gauges across the opening and returns at set intervals to take readings.
The data shows whether the gap widens in summer when clay dries out, or stays the same through every season. That pattern tells the specialist whether the home needs underpinning or simply a repair to the plaster and brickwork.
Monitoring avoids unnecessary heavy work. It also gives you a record to show a buyer if you decide to sell later on. Find out how crack monitoring works and when it is the right approach.
Checking Drains Beneath the House
A leaking drain under the footings washes soil away slowly. The ground loses support and the wall above settles. This is one of the most common causes of subsidence in Kent, particularly on sandy or chalky sites.
A specialist sends a camera along the pipe to look for fractures, collapsed sections or blocked joints. The footage shows exactly where the leak is and how much damage it has done to the surrounding earth.
Repairing the pipe often stops the movement without any further work. If the ground has already been washed out, the specialist advises whether resin injection or another method is needed to fill the void. See what a drainage CCTV survey covers.
Stabilising the Footings
When the ground beneath a home cannot support the weight of the walls, the foundations need strengthening. Underpinning involves digging below the existing footings and pouring new concrete in stages so the building remains supported throughout.
The specialist assesses access, soil conditions and the depth required before setting out a plan. In terraced streets or homes with tight gardens, the logistics shape which technique is practical.
Costs depend on how many metres of wall are affected and how deep the stable ground lies. The specialist explains what disruption to expect inside the home while the work takes place. Read about underpinning costs, access and disruption in Kent.
Filling Voids Without Digging
Resin injection stabilises ground that has shrunk or been washed away, without excavating beneath the walls. The specialist drills small holes through the floor slab or footing and pumps an expanding material into the soil.
The resin fills empty spaces and compacts loose earth. As it cures, it lifts the structure back towards its original level. The process suits homes where digging trenches would cause too much damage to floors or gardens.
Because the equipment is light, the work can often be completed in a day or two. The specialist determines whether the soil type and the scale of movement make resin a suitable choice. Find out when resin injection is used as a lighter alternative.
Driving Piles Into Firm Ground
Screw piling uses steel shafts turned into the ground until they reach a layer strong enough to carry the load. The specialist fits a helical plate to the base of each pile and drives it down using hydraulic torque.
This method works well where soft fill or weak clay sits above firmer strata. It produces less vibration than driven piles, so it suits older homes with fragile masonry.
Once the piles are in place, the specialist brackets them to the existing foundation. The weight of the wall transfers to the deeper, stable ground. Read how screw piling takes loads to firmer ground in Kent.
Dealing With Cracked Concrete Floors
Concrete slabs crack when the soil beneath them dries out or compresses. Garages, driveways and ground-floor rooms all suffer. The specialist examines the slab to determine whether the cracking is superficial or linked to wider ground movement.
If the subsoil has compacted, lifting the slab with resin or replacing sections may be necessary. Drainage issues underneath the concrete often contribute, so the specialist checks for leaks before recommending a fix.
You learn whether the floor needs patching, re-levelling or a full replacement. The approach depends on how the rest of the home is behaving. See what happens when concrete floors crack in Kent homes.
Replacing Corroded Wall Ties
Cavity walls rely on metal ties to hold the inner and outer leaves together. When those ties rust, the outer leaf bulges outward and horizontal cracks appear along the mortar joints.
A specialist uses an endoscope to inspect the cavity and confirm the ties have failed. New stainless-steel ties are drilled through the outer leaf and fixed into the inner blockwork. The old ties are either removed or snapped back so they stop causing pressure.
This work prevents the outer skin from pulling away entirely. It is distinct from subsidence but often mistaken for it, since both produce visible cracking. Learn about wall tie replacement when render bulges.
Ask About Your Home
Send details of the cracks or movement you have noticed. The information goes to a relevant specialist who will respond directly. You are not committing to any work by filling in this form.
- No fee to enquire
- No obligation to proceed
- Specialist replies directly
Stabilising
- Movement survey
A subsidence survey in Kent covers crack patterns, ground conditions, drains and nearby trees, with a written view on cause. See what a specialist checks.
- Crack monitoring
Crack monitoring in Kent records width, length and movement over months so repairs are based on evidence. See what the readings mean and how long it runs.
- Drainage CCTV survey
A drainage CCTV survey in Kent sends a camera through the pipes to find cracks, blockages and leaks washing out ground under footings. See what it shows.
- Underpinning
Underpinning in Kent for houses affected by subsidence, covering the main methods, access through gardens, likely disruption and who carries out the work.
- Resin injection
Resin injection for subsidence strengthens weak ground under footings with less digging than underpinning. See how it works and which homes suit it.
- Screw piling
Screw piling in Kent carries house loads down to firmer ground, often on tight urban or sloping plots. Read how piles are installed and when they fit.
- Concrete cracking
Cracked concrete floors in Kent, from ground-floor slabs and garage floors to drives and extension bases, with the signs that point to movement below.
- Wall Tie Replacement
Wall tie replacement in Kent suits cavity walls with horizontal cracks, bulging render or lifted brick courses. See how rusted ties are replaced.
- Home Buyer Report
A home buyer subsidence report gives a written specialist opinion when a survey flags movement, or when a seller needs to show a crack is historic.