Frequently Asked Questions

The most common sign is regular horizontal cracking in the external brickwork, often at intervals matching the original wall tie spacing, caused by corroding steel expanding and pushing the masonry apart. Bulging walls and cracking around window or door reveals are also common signs. Smaller wall ties sometimes fail without any visible sign at all, which is why a borescope survey is the most reliable way to check.

Horizontal cracks running along mortar lines, often every 6–12 brick courses (roughly half a metre apart), happen when corroding wall ties expand and force the brickwork above them upward — this pattern most commonly points to wall tie failure. Stepped cracks, which rise diagonally following the mortar joints in a staircase pattern, more often point to settlement, subsidence, or lintel failure instead. The distinction genuinely matters, since wall tie failure needs a specialist wall tie survey, while stepped cracking is more likely to need crack stitching or masonry beaming — getting the diagnosis right avoids paying for the wrong fix.

Not directly. Wall tie replacement is the specialism of our sister company, 1st Master Wall Ties, who are Helifix Approved and members of the Wall Tie Installers Federation. If a survey identifies wall tie failure as the cause of your issue, we refer you directly to them, and they do exactly the same for us when a job needs crack, concrete, or lintel work. See our Wall Tie Replacement page for more.

Hairline cracks under 1mm wide are usually plaster shrinkage if they're internal, or normal seasonal movement in masonry if external, and can just be monitored. Take it more seriously if a crack is wider than 5mm, diagonal, growing over time, wider at one end than the other, appeared suddenly, visible on both internal and external walls, or accompanied by sticking doors or windows and sloping floors. As a general rule, the wider the crack, the more serious the issue may be.

Yes, when installed correctly with the right length of stainless steel helical bar and a suitable bonding agent, crack stitching provides a permanent structural repair. However, if the underlying cause, such as subsidence or wall tie failure, isn't addressed too, the crack may reappear or new cracks may form elsewhere. Treating the cause matters as much as treating the crack.

Pricing is generally calculated per bar, typically £60–£120 depending on access, crack severity, and property type. A free site survey gives you an accurate, fixed-price quote.

On its own, crack stitching reconnects cracked masonry but doesn't correct bulging. For bulging or bowing walls, lateral restraints are normally used alongside or instead of crack stitching, tying the wall back to floor or roof timbers to stop further movement.

Concrete cancer is a common term for reinforcement corrosion, where moisture, oxygen, and sometimes chloride salts reach the steel reinforcement inside concrete. As the steel rusts, it expands, sometimes several times its original size, creating internal pressure that cracks, delaminates, and eventually breaks away the surrounding concrete. Common signs include cracking or flaking surfaces, rust staining, bulging, and exposed or corroded rebar.

In most cases, repair is significantly more cost-effective than full replacement, particularly when the underlying structure is still sound. Replacement means breaking out large sections, installing new reinforcement, and pouring new concrete, which is far more disruptive and expensive than a targeted repair.

It varies hugely depending on the size and structural significance of the damage. Very small patch repairs can cost as little as £10–£20, but that's the floor of the range, not a typical job — most genuine structural concrete repairs cost considerably more, depending on the size of the damaged area and the condition of the reinforcement underneath. A free site survey gives an accurate, case-by-case quote.

Yes, severely damaged concrete can usually be restored using specialised repair materials, with corroded or defective reinforcement either treated or replaced. This preserves both the structural integrity and the appearance of the original structure.

Regular maintenance, such as treating exposed concrete and inspecting for early cracking or spalling, can help prevent concrete cancer or catch it before it causes severe, irreversible damage.

Usually not. Concrete deterioration typically develops gradually and is considered normal wear and tear, which falls under routine maintenance rather than an insurable event. There are exceptions: cover may apply if the damage results from a genuinely sudden, unexpected event, such as subsidence, a burst pipe or drainage failure, or accidental impact damage from a covered incident. Policies vary, so it's always worth checking your specific documents or speaking to your insurer directly.

The most common sign is cracking in the masonry surrounding the lintel, often as horizontal cracks or step-shaped cracks rising from the lintel's ends. Other signs include visible bowing or deflection in the lintel itself, and for concrete lintels, spalling caused by rusting reinforcement underneath.

Moisture is the usual culprit. Water penetration leads to rusting in steel lintels or spalling in concrete and masonry lintels. Over time this weakens the structure, eventually causing cracking or, in severe cases, collapse.

Not always, but it's a common sign. Cracking around an opening can mean the lintel can no longer support the masonry above it, or that a metal lintel has rusted and expanded, pushing the brickwork upward. Similar cracking can also be caused by thermal expansion or ground movement, so a proper assessment is the most reliable way to confirm the actual cause.

Often, yes. A concrete lintel showing early corrosion can sometimes be repaired in-situ using a structural repair mortar, which is less disruptive and less expensive than full replacement. Once a lintel has failed structurally, replacement is usually the safer, more reliable option. A site survey identifies which applies to your property.

Typically no more than one day per lintel for a standard job. A boot lintel usually takes longer, since masonry on both skins of the wall needs supporting throughout. Access, the condition of the surrounding brickwork, and weather can also add time — if the masonry above needs significant rebuilding rather than just making good, that extends the job too.

A boot lintel is a concrete lintel shaped to support both the inner and outer skins of a cavity wall in a single unit, named for its boot-like cross-section profile. Unlike a standard lintel, its outer toe has no bottom bearing surface and relies entirely on the inner masonry leaf for support — if that bearing can't properly spread the load, the lintel can rotate over time, opening up cracking even without any reinforcement corrosion. They're also more complex to replace than a standard lintel because both skins of brickwork need supporting during removal.

Our site surveys are free and no-obligation, whatever the issue turns out to be. If there's nothing to worry about, we'll tell you that too.

Insurance-backed guarantees are available depending on the work carried out. Wall tie replacement through 1st Master Wall Ties carries a 25-year insurance-backed guarantee. We'll confirm exactly what's covered for your specific job before any work starts.

We work across Portsmouth, Southampton, Brighton, Bournemouth, Guildford, and the wider Hampshire, Dorset, and Sussex area.