Cavity wall tie surveys, stainless steel replacement ties and structural crack stitching that stop movement and restore your brickwork. Covering Eastbourne, Crawley & Haywards Heath and Worthing and across Sussex.
Book a surveyHorizontal cracks every few courses of brickwork, bulging walls and lifting window sills are classic signs of failing cavity wall ties, a problem we find in many Sussex homes built with early mild steel ties.
Other cracks have different causes. Our surveyors inspect the ties inside the cavity with a borescope and assess any cracking before recommending a repair.
Exposure to wind-driven rain and salt air on the Sussex coast speeds up the corrosion of mild steel wall ties, so coastal cavity-walled homes are often affected sooner than inland properties.
We survey and replace ties from Worthing to Eastbourne.
Sussex combines Regency and Victorian seafront terraces in Brighton, Hove and Eastbourne with flint cottages on the Downs and tile-hung, timber-framed Wealden houses inland. Many of these older buildings were built with lime mortars and solid walls that need to breathe, and inappropriate cement renders or modern paints are a frequent cause of trapped damp.
The chalk of the South Downs is free-draining, but the clay of the Weald holds water, and coastal towns have lower ground floors and basements close to the water table. Properties on sloping sites often have earth banked against rear walls, which brings damp into rooms below ground level.
Victorian and Edwardian seaside villas and interwar homes exposed to salt-laden weather, which speeds up wall tie corrosion and render failure.
New-town and post-war housing alongside older properties on Weald Clay, where condensation and cracked walls are common.
Interwar bungalows, semis and seafront apartments where cavity wall ties, condensation and penetrating damp are frequent problems.
Cavity walls are held together by metal ties bridging the gap between the inner and outer leaves. Older mild steel ties corrode, and as the rust expands it lifts the mortar joints, causing horizontal cracking. Eventually the ties can fail completely and the outer wall can bow away.
Where ties have failed, we install high-performance stainless steel replacement ties in the pattern required by current building regulations and, where necessary, isolate the old corroded ties so they stop expanding.
Where cracking has already occurred, structural crack stitching restores strength. Mortar joints are raked out, high-tensile stainless steel helical bars are bonded in with specialist resin, and the joints are repointed to match, giving a strong, discreet repair.
A PCA-qualified, commission-free surveyor visits your Sussex property, investigates with calibrated equipment and identifies the cause.
You receive a clear written report explaining what we found and what we recommend, with a fixed quotation and no hidden extras.
Our own trained team carries out the work, protecting your home, keeping dust down and leaving everything clean.
You receive a written guarantee, which can be protected by an Insurance Backed Guarantee for a single premium.
Our surveyors cover East and West Sussex regularly, from the Weald villages to the coast. We regularly work in Hastings, Gatwick, Ashurst, Battle, Bexhill-on-Sea and Copthorne, and throughout Brighton & Hove, Horsham, Crawley, Mid Sussex, Chichester and Arun.
Towns and areas we cover in Sussex
Find out more about our cracked walls & wall ties service.
Book a survey
If you’ve noticed any of these issues, arranging a professional survey is the best way to identify the cause and prevent further damage.
We drill small holes into the mortar and use a borescope (a small camera) to see the ties in the cavity, without opening up the wall.
No. Cracks can come from settlement, subsidence, defective lintels, thermal movement or timber decay. Diagnosing the cause correctly is essential before any repair.
Most houses take a few days, depending on size and access. The work is done from outside, so disruption indoors is minimal.
Yes. Our surveyors cover the whole county. Get in touch with your postcode to arrange a visit.
Yes. Wind-driven rain and salt air cause a lot of penetrating damp in seafront properties. We find where the water is getting in, from render and pointing to parapets and windows, and fix it at source.
Yes. Flint cottages and Wealden timber-framed houses need breathable materials and careful repairs rather than heavy-handed injection and hard plaster, and that is how we treat them.
Our surveyors cover East and West Sussex regularly, from the Weald villages to the coast. Towns we visit regularly include Hastings, Gatwick, Ashurst, Battle, Bexhill-on-Sea, Copthorne, Crawley and Crowborough. If yours isn't listed, give us a call and we'll confirm.
Also in Sussex
Our other specialist services for Sussex homes, landlords and businesses.
Rising damp, penetrating damp and damp proof courses. Most common around Brighton & Hove and Eastbourne.
Dry rot, wet rot and woodworm. Most common around Horsham and Brighton & Hove.
Basement damp proofing, tanking and conversions. Most common around Crawley & Haywards Heath and Horsham.
Black mould, streaming windows and ventilation. Most common around Worthing and Brighton & Hove.
Pre-purchase and mortgage surveys. Especially worthwhile for older homes around Brighton & Hove and Chichester.
Leaks, floods and burst pipes. Most common around Lewes and Chichester.
Client testimonials
Tapco have just completed damp proofing my house and I can't fault the quality of their work and professionalism of their operatives. A great job from start to finish, I highly recommend them.
Live just outside Sussex? We cover the neighbouring counties too.
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From our offices in Thames Ditton and Esher, our surveyors cover London and the surrounding counties, providing fast response times for residential and commercial properties alike.
We regularly work with:
Whether your property requires a damp survey, timber inspection or basement waterproofing system, our experienced team is ready to help.
Our certifications reflect our commitment to the highest standards of work and quality.
Why Tapco
Established in 1971
Choosing Tapco HomeDry means choosing a company with a proven history of protecting properties across the South East.
We believe every property deserves an individual assessment. That’s why our recommendations are based on what your building genuinely needs, not unnecessary treatments.
Tapco (Preservation) Ltd is an Introducer Appointed Representative (Financial Services Register No. 423558) of Phoenix Financial Consultants Limited (Phoenix). Phoenix is a credit broker, not a lender. Phoenix is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN: 539195), and offers finance from its panel of lenders. All finance subject to status and credit checks.
