Cavity wall tie surveys, stainless steel replacement ties and structural crack stitching that stop movement and restore your brickwork. Covering Brentwood, Epping & Loughton and Billericay and across Essex.
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 Essex 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.
London Clay's seasonal shrinking and swelling makes cracked walls a frequent issue in Essex. We assess whether cracks come from ground movement, failed wall ties or defective lintels, and repair accordingly.
Essex has weatherboarded cottages and timber-framed houses in its villages, Victorian and Edwardian homes in towns like Brentwood and Chelmsford, and large areas of interwar and post-war housing. Many of the older buildings rely on timber frames and lime-based finishes that are vulnerable when damp gets trapped.
Most of south Essex sits on London Clay, which swells when wet and shrinks in dry summers. That seasonal movement is a common contributor to cracked walls, and the clay's poor drainage keeps ground floors and cellars under moisture pressure.
Victorian, Edwardian and interwar family homes on London Clay, where rising damp and cracked walls are common.
Interwar and period homes near Epping Forest, where mature trees on clay soil contribute to ground movement and cracking.
Interwar and post-war housing where corroded wall ties and condensation feature in our surveys.
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 Essex 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.
We survey properties in south-west Essex, including Brentwood, Epping, Loughton, Billericay and Chelmsford. We regularly work in Basildon, Aveley, Billericay, Blackmore, Brentwood and Buckhurst Hill, and throughout Brentwood, Epping Forest, Chelmsford, Basildon and Thurrock.
Towns and areas we cover in Essex
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.
We survey properties in south-west Essex, including Brentwood, Epping, Loughton, Billericay and Chelmsford. Call us to check further afield.
It can. London Clay holds water against walls and floors, and it swells and shrinks with the seasons, which contributes to damp ground floors and cracked walls. A survey will show whether it is affecting your home.
We survey properties in south-west Essex, including Brentwood, Epping, Loughton, Billericay and Chelmsford. Towns we visit regularly include Basildon, Aveley, Billericay, Blackmore, Brentwood, Buckhurst Hill, Chelmsford and Corringham. If yours isn't listed, give us a call and we'll confirm.
Also in Essex
Our other specialist services for Essex homes, landlords and businesses.
Rising damp, penetrating damp and damp proof courses. Most common around Chelmsford and Brentwood.
Dry rot, wet rot and woodworm. Most common around the Essex villages and Chelmsford.
Basement damp proofing, tanking and conversions. Most common around Chelmsford and Thurrock & Grays.
Black mould, streaming windows and ventilation. Most common around Chelmsford and Brentwood.
Pre-purchase and mortgage surveys. Especially worthwhile for older homes around the Essex villages and Chelmsford.
Leaks, floods and burst pipes. Most common around Thurrock & Grays and Chelmsford.
Client testimonials
Just had various bits of damp-proofing done to my flat. The work was done on time and to a very high standard. Although the place was a bit of a building site during the work, as you'd expect, it was left immaculate! Impressed.
Live just outside Essex? We cover the neighbouring counties too.
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Tell us what you’re seeing and we’ll point you to the right treatment. Four quick questions.
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.
