Areas We Cover
Weymouth Subsidence provides professional subsidence investigation and repair services across the entire county of Dorset. From our base at Granby Industrial Estate in Weymouth, we serve 20 towns and their surrounding villages, covering every corner of this geologically diverse county.
Dorset's varied geology — ranging from the ancient Jurassic clays along the coast to the chalk downlands of the interior, from the sandy heathlands of the east to the limestone ridges of the Purbeck peninsula — means that subsidence can have very different causes depending on where your property is located. Our deep understanding of these local ground conditions is what sets us apart from generalist contractors who may not appreciate the nuances of Dorset's soil types.
Each area we cover has its own subsidence profile, influenced by local geology, tree coverage, drainage infrastructure, and building age. Select your area below to learn about the specific subsidence risks in your location and the services we provide there.
Why Local Knowledge Matters
Subsidence is fundamentally a geological problem, and geology varies dramatically across Dorset. A property in Bournemouth sits on very different ground to one in Bridport, and the subsidence risks — and repair solutions — differ accordingly. A contractor who understands these differences can diagnose problems faster, recommend more appropriate solutions, and deliver better long-term outcomes.
For example, properties in Weymouth and Dorchester often sit on Kimmeridge clay — one of the most shrinkable clay types in the UK. This clay can lose significant volume during dry summers, causing foundations to drop. In contrast, properties in Ferndown and West Moors sit on sandy Bagshot formation soils that can wash out beneath foundations when drainage fails. The diagnostic approach and repair method needs to reflect these very different underlying causes.
Our team has worked extensively across every part of Dorset and has first-hand experience with the specific challenges each area presents. This local expertise means fewer misdiagnoses, more targeted repairs, and better value for our clients and their insurers.
Coastal Areas
Bournemouth, Poole, Weymouth, Swanage, and Lyme Regis face unique challenges including coastal erosion, salt damage, and varied coastal geology.
Inland Towns
Dorchester, Sherborne, Blandford Forum, and Gillingham sit on clay and chalk formations that react significantly to seasonal moisture changes.
Heath & River Towns
Ferndown, Verwood, Wareham, and Wimborne Minster face sandy soil washout and river valley alluvial instability.
All Coverage Areas
Click any area to view local subsidence information and available services.
Bournemouth
Bournemouth is one of Dorset's largest towns, known for its sandy beaches and Victorian architecture. Many properties in Bournemouth are built on sandy and clay soils, making them susceptible to subsidence — particularly in the older residential areas around Boscombe, Winton, and Charminster.
Poole
Poole is a major coastal town with the second-largest natural harbour in the world. The town's proximity to the harbour means many properties are built on reclaimed or waterlogged ground, while inland areas sit on Bagshot sands and clay — both of which can cause foundation problems.
Christchurch
Christchurch is a historic town at the confluence of the Rivers Avon and Stour. The river valley location means many properties sit on alluvial deposits that can be unstable, while areas further from the rivers may be on clay that shrinks and swells with seasonal moisture changes.
Weymouth
Weymouth is the home base for Weymouth Subsidence and a beautiful seaside town on the Jurassic Coast. The varied geology around Weymouth — from Portland limestone to Kimmeridge clay — creates challenging ground conditions that frequently lead to subsidence in residential and commercial properties.
Dorchester
Dorchester is Dorset's county town with Roman roots and a mix of historic and modern properties. The town sits primarily on chalk and clay, and the surrounding farmland features mature trees whose roots can extend significant distances beneath nearby properties.
Wimborne Minster
Wimborne Minster is a charming market town with a notable twin-towered minster church. Properties here sit on a mixture of river terrace gravels and clay, and the town's many mature trees in residential areas can cause significant subsidence problems in surrounding properties.
Ferndown
Ferndown is a growing residential town surrounded by heathland in East Dorset. The sandy, heathland soils can wash out beneath foundations, while pockets of clay create areas where seasonal ground movement causes subsidence in properties across the town.
Bridport
Bridport is a vibrant market town in West Dorset with a long history of rope-making. The town sits in the valley of the River Brit on a mix of clay and sandstone, and the surrounding hillsides feature Dorset's characteristic shrinkable clay soils that cause widespread subsidence.
Verwood
Verwood is a town in East Dorset that has grown significantly since the 1960s. Built primarily on Bagshot sands and clays, many properties in Verwood sit on ground that can be affected by both washout of sandy soils and shrinkage of clay layers — creating a dual subsidence risk.
Sherborne
Sherborne is an elegant North Dorset town known for its abbey and two castles. Many of the town's buildings date from the medieval period and sit on foundations that were never designed to modern standards, making them vulnerable to subsidence from clay shrinkage and tree root activity.
Swanage
Swanage is a seaside town on the Isle of Purbeck with stunning cliff scenery. Properties in Swanage are built on a range of geological formations including Purbeck limestone, Wealden clay, and chalk — each creating different subsidence risks depending on location within the town.
Gillingham
Gillingham is the fastest-growing town in North Dorset, with significant new housing development. The town sits on Kimmeridge and Oxford clay, both of which are highly shrinkable and a major cause of subsidence in properties across the area.
Blandford Forum
Blandford Forum is a Georgian market town rebuilt after a great fire in 1731. While the uniform Georgian architecture is beautiful, many buildings share similar foundation construction that can be vulnerable to the clay shrinkage and chalk dissolution found in the Stour Valley.
Shaftesbury
Shaftesbury is a hilltop town famous for Gold Hill, one of England's most photographed streets. The town's elevated position on a greensand ridge means properties can face particular challenges with slope stability and the shrinkable clay soils found at the base of the hill.
Wareham
Wareham is an ancient walled town situated between the Rivers Frome and Piddle. The river valley location means much of the town sits on alluvial deposits and river terrace gravels, while surrounding areas feature the Dorset heathland soils that can cause foundation problems.
Broadstone
Broadstone is a residential area within Poole known for its tree-lined avenues and family-friendly character. The combination of sandy heathland soils and numerous mature trees makes properties in Broadstone particularly susceptible to subsidence from root-related moisture extraction.
Lyme Regis
Lyme Regis is a historic coastal town on the Jurassic Coast, famous for its fossils and the Cobb harbour. The town is built on notoriously unstable Blue Lias clay cliffs, and landslip activity is a constant concern for properties on the town's slopes.
West Moors
West Moors is a village in East Dorset situated on heathland between Ferndown and Verwood. Properties here are built on sandy Bagshot formation soils that can wash out beneath foundations, particularly when drainage issues or water table changes affect the ground.
Corfe Mullen
Corfe Mullen is a large village between Wimborne and Poole with a mix of housing ages and styles. The area sits on a transition zone between heathland sands and river valley clays, creating variable ground conditions that can affect foundations in different ways across the village.
Upton
Upton is a town near Poole Harbour with a growing residential community. Located on the edge of the harbour, properties face ground conditions influenced by both the coastal proximity and the inland heathland — creating a mix of clay, sand, and gravel beneath foundations.
Services Available Across Dorset
Every service we offer is available in every area we cover. Select a service to learn more about what is involved.