Homes we inspect in Greenford
Most of Greenford was built in the 1930s, after the Western Avenue opened up the area, and its streets are lined with semi-detached and terraced houses with front bays and long gardens. Many have rear extensions, loft conversions or converted garages.
Interwar houses usually have shallow foundations. On clay, that makes them sensitive to trees and dry summers, so a crack that opens in late summer and closes in winter is a common pattern here.
Common structural issues in Greenford
- Seasonal movement on clay near trees and hedges.
- Bay window cracking where the bay sits on shallower foundations.
- Cracks at the junction of rear extensions.
- Garage conversions on shallow footings.
- Roof alterations from hip-to-gable loft conversions.
Ground conditions
Greenford is mainly on London Clay, which shrinks as it dries and swells when it gets wet. Higher ground such as Horsenden Hill has other deposits on top, and the River Brent and the canal run through the area.
We check the British Geological Survey records for every address we inspect, because ground conditions can change from one street to the next.
Services in Greenford
- Structural inspections: Specific (SSI) from £420*, General (GSI) from £540* and Comprehensive (CGSI) from £880*.
- Mortgage structural reports when your lender's valuer asks for an engineer.
- Insurance structural reports and subsidence investigations.
- Wall and chimney breast removal calculations for Building Control.
- Extension and loft conversion design.
- Freeholder consent reports for leasehold flats.
* Prices are a guide only and VAT may be added. Contact us for an accurate price.
Arranging an inspection in Greenford
Send us the postcode, whether it is a house or a flat, how many bedrooms it has and a few photos of what you have noticed, or your valuer's letter. We will recommend the right service and give you a price in writing before you book. Our engineers travel to Greenford from our office on Turnham Green Terrace in Chiswick, with weekday and weekend visits available. See our prices or request a quote.
Local guides
Case study from Greenford
- Front porch pulling away from a 1930s semi in Greenford. Cracks and a 10 mm gap where a rebuilt porch meets a 1930s house in Greenford, UB6. What we found, the likely cause and the repair we recommended.
Nearby areas we cover
See all areas we cover across London.
Common questions
Do you have an office in Greenford?
No. Our office is at Gable House, 18–24 Turnham Green Terrace, Chiswick, W4 1QP, and our engineers travel to Greenford for inspections and site visits.
Is it subsidence if the crack opens in summer?
It can be. Cracks that open in dry weather and close in winter often point to clay shrinkage, frequently linked to nearby trees. An inspection looks at the pattern and the surroundings to tell seasonal movement apart from other causes, and explains what to do next.
