Looking Beyond Visible Cracks in Poole Properties
Poole’s Victorian and Edwardian houses, interwar properties, apartment buildings and commercial premises have different structural arrangements. Later extensions and alterations may also introduce changes in foundation construction, wall materials and the way loads pass through the building.
Cracking in rendered elevations, separation around openings and changes in floor levels need to be considered alongside that construction. Coastal exposure can contribute to deterioration in external materials, while drainage defects and changes beneath foundations may require a different investigation.
At ASRS, we review the pattern of damage and available reports to establish the repair requirements. Our existing subsidence repairs in Poole service addresses related movement concerns, including projects where additional foundation support needs to be accompanied by repairs to the structure above ground.
Review the Property Before Agreeing the Work
A free site visit provides an opportunity to discuss the damage, inspect accessible areas and understand the investigations already completed. Existing photographs, drawings and repair specifications can help explain the history of the problem.
Through our consultation and assessment service, we discuss the next steps towards defining the work. Where further investigation or engineering input is needed, those findings should inform the specification before installation arrangements are finalised.
First-class service
I would just like to pass on what a first-class service I received from your company. All the guys who attended, and Gary the Surveyor, were absolutely fantastic. I am so pleased with the work that was carried out.
LG – Witney, Oxfordshire
Professional attitude
I wanted to let you know that we were very pleased with the work, professional attitude, care and attention of the builders who worked on our property. Thank you.
PT – High Wycombe
A credit to ASRS
The team is a real credit to ASRS. Nothing was too much trouble. They took the time to explain what they were doing. Show the works as they were being progressed and left the area very clean and tidy.
LH - Milverton
A pleasure to deal with
Thanks for the work which - as far I can tell - was carried out to a high standard, and which started and finished on time and on budget.
I’d also like to put on record our appreciation of Lee who managed the job. He was careful and thorough, always professional in his approach and was a pleasure to deal with throughout.
TR – Aller, Somerset
Efficient and skilful
Thank you so much for the incredibly efficient and skilful way in which the structural repair work was carried out at my property.
I was particularly reassured by the team who carried out the work and kept me updated on what was happening.
BW - Bristol
Call us for help with any of these
Common structural defects, issues and problems
We offer free site visits to both domestic and professional clients to assess the problem and propose the appropriate repair programme, tailored to suit the specific needs of the project. ASRS are approved installers of the Helibeam System, offering cost effective, non-disruptive and concealed solutions to all aspects of remedial masonry stabilisation. Our skilled installation teams are trained and experienced in all aspects of masonry repair. They have been trained to the highest standard in every installation process to cover all H+S requirements. With most of our design and installation specifications we are proud to offer a 10yr indemnified guarantee on Helifix repairs and Micro Piling. We offer a 25yr guarantee for Wall Tie replacement.
Reasons
To trust ASRS
Free Quotation
Helifix Approved
Skilled Workforce
Guaranteed
Reasons to Trust ASRS
Free Site Visits
Arrange a free site visit to discuss the visible damage, your property’s condition and the next steps towards appropriate repairs.
Helifix Approved
We install established Helifix reinforcement systems where specified, helping strengthen damaged masonry while preserving the appearance of the existing building.
Skilled Installation Teams
Our trained installation teams follow the repair specification, with careful attention to workmanship, working arrangements and safety throughout your project.
Guarantees Where Applicable
Most specified Helifix repairs and micro piling projects can carry a 10-year indemnified guarantee, subject to the applicable project terms.
Connecting New Foundation Support to the Existing Structure
Where additional support is required, the repair design needs to establish the relevant building loads, suitable supporting ground and how the installation will connect to the existing foundations. Foundation dimensions and condition are considered alongside the investigation findings.
ASRS installs screw-down micro piles where specified. Our systems also include augered bored piles and steel-cased driven piles, with conventional piling considered according to the design and site requirements. Working space, equipment routes, neighbouring structures and underground services influence the installation arrangements.
Our design and repair programmes can include drawings, method statements and calculations where necessary. We can also implement a specification prepared by your independently appointed engineer. The agreed details should identify support positions, foundation connections and associated repairs, giving the installation team a defined programme to follow.
Foundation Repairs in Poole FAQs
Can cracking in render conceal a different problem in the wall beneath?
A crack in render does not necessarily reveal how the masonry beneath it is affected. It may relate to the finish itself, movement within the wall or a wider structural problem. Its position, progression and relationship to damage elsewhere therefore need to be considered together. Photographs can help establish when it appeared, while an assessment may identify where further inspection or opening up is required. ASRS can discuss the visible damage and review available reports before defining the repair scope. Where masonry reinforcement or foundation support is specified, the programme should also explain how affected finishes will be reinstated. Simply covering the crack would not establish what caused it or whether structural work is needed.
Can balcony damage occur without a foundation defect?
support. Water ingress and corrosion of embedded reinforcement can cause cracking or spalling, while loading and structural movement may also need consideration. The assessment should establish the role of the affected component and whether damage elsewhere suggests a connected problem. ASRS can review the concrete repair requirements alongside the wider condition of the property, working with appointed engineers where needed. If the findings identify both concrete deterioration and a foundation defect, each requires an appropriate response within the agreed programme. The appearance of damage to an upper-level concrete element alone does not determine whether underpinning is necessary.
What needs checking where foundation work is close to a retaining wall?
The assessment needs to consider the retaining wall’s position, construction and relationship to the building and proposed working area. Differences in ground level, drainage and any visible wall movement may influence the investigation and installation arrangements. Foundation support for the property should not be assumed to correct a separate defect in the retaining structure. Where both require attention, ASRS can discuss specified retaining wall stabilisation alongside the foundation repairs. The appointed engineer may need to consider how excavation, support positions and the sequence of work relate to the retained ground. Establishing those requirements before installation gives the team a clear basis for organising access and carrying out the agreed works.
Why are pile-to-foundation connections included in the repair design?
Installing a pile is only one part of providing additional support. The design also needs to establish how the building’s loads will pass from the existing foundation into the new support system. The foundation’s dimensions, condition and construction influence that connection, alongside the specified loads and pile arrangement. ASRS follows the agreed details and can discuss installation requirements with your appointed engineer. Where concealed construction differs from the available drawings, the relevant information should be reviewed before a connection is installed. Clear drawings and specifications help identify the intended positions, components and installation sequence, so the completed arrangement reflects the support requirements established for the particular property.
Can a managing agent submit one enquiry for a block of flats?
Yes. A managing agent can submit an enquiry covering damage affecting several flats or communal parts of one building. Provide the building address, photographs, available reports and a clear description of where the defects have appeared. Identify which areas can be accessed and who will coordinate attendance with occupants or other representatives. ASRS can review the enquiry and discuss the information needed to establish an appropriate repair scope. Where movement affects shared walls, foundations or concrete components, the programme should consider those connected elements together. The agreed arrangements should also explain working areas, access and responsibilities, helping the managing agent and appointed professionals organise the specified repairs across the affected parts of the building.
Which areas of Poole do you cover?
ASRS welcomes foundation repair enquiries from Poole town centre, Hamworthy, Parkstone, Broadstone, Canford Heath, Oakdale and Creekmoor, as well as Lilliput, Sandbanks and surrounding areas. We consider houses, apartment buildings, rental properties and commercial premises according to their construction and identified repair requirements. Our local work connects with subsidence repairs across Dorset and subsidence repairs in Dorchester, alongside nearby structural repairs in Bournemouth. When making an enquiry, share the property address, photographs and any existing engineer’s report or specification. Details of previous repairs, alterations and access arrangements also help us understand the project before discussing a site visit and the next steps.