PanicStation.org
UK USA
uk Home & property emergencies exterior wall bulge • bulging outside wall • bowing exterior wall • wall suddenly bowing • new wall bulge • wall bulging brickwork • wall bowing brickwork • outside wall leaning • wall moving outward • house wall bowing • sudden structural movement • new crack and bulge • wall bulge after rain • wall bulge after freeze • wall bulge after building work • bulge in masonry wall • bulging render outside • bowing wall emergency • exterior wall deformation

What to do if…
an exterior wall shows a new bulge or bowing section that wasn’t there before

Short answer

Treat a new bulge/bow in an exterior wall as a potential collapse risk: keep people away from that area and arrange urgent professional assessment. If it looks like it could fail soon (worsening quickly, falling masonry, loud cracking), call 999.

Do not do these things

  • Don’t push on the wall, lean ladders against it, or “test” it by banging/tapping.
  • Don’t drill, chisel, remove bricks/render, or start “temporary bracing” unless instructed by a qualified professional.
  • Don’t stay in (or let anyone sleep in) rooms directly next to/under the bulge “to see if it settles”.
  • Don’t ignore new warning signs like fresh cracks spreading, debris on the ground, doors/windows suddenly sticking, or audible creaks/cracks.
  • Don’t turn on/off electrical switches if you can smell gas (avoid anything that could spark).

What to do now

  1. Create a no-go zone immediately. Move everyone (and pets) away from the wall and the rooms nearest it. Keep people away from the outside too (don’t stand under the bulge).
  2. Do a 30-second safety check for “leave now” signs. If you see falling bricks/render, the bulge is growing quickly, you hear repeated cracking/tearing sounds, or the wall looks like it’s separating from floors/roof, leave the building and call 999 (ask for Fire and Rescue).
  3. If you smell gas or suspect a leak, treat that as a separate emergency. Get everyone into fresh air and call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999 (24/7). If it’s safe to do so on your way out, leave doors open.
  4. If there’s any electrical danger outside (damaged cables/equipment) or a power cut linked to damage, keep well clear and report it to your electricity network operator:
    • In England, Wales and Scotland (Great Britain): call 105 (free) to reach the local network operator.
    • In Northern Ireland: use your electricity network/utility emergency contact route (do not approach damaged equipment). If someone is in immediate danger, call 999 first.
  5. Document without getting close. From a safe distance, take photos/video showing:
    • the whole wall and the bulge (include something for scale),
    • any new cracks inside near that wall,
    • any debris on the ground,
    • a short note of when you first noticed it and anything that changed recently (heavy rain, nearby digging, building work, impact).
  6. Contact the right “responsible person” fast.
    • If you rent: report it to your landlord/agent as an urgent structural safety issue and say you’ve set a no-go zone.
    • If leasehold/flat block: notify the managing agent/freeholder/building manager urgently.
  7. Get urgent professional assessment. Ask for a structural engineer (or building surveyor who can escalate to a structural engineer) and say: “new exterior wall bulge/bowing; concerned about stability.”
  8. Loop in your insurer early. Contact your buildings insurer/home insurer and report “possible structural movement” (they may require specific contractors/engineers and want photos).
  9. If it may be an immediate public safety risk (for example, a bulging wall over a pavement/road), report it to your local council/local authority as a dangerous structure:
    • this is usually handled by building control (and building standards in Scotland),
    • keep people away until it’s assessed, and follow any instructions you’re given.

What can wait

  • You do not need to decide the cause (subsidence, wall ties, damp, etc.) right now.
  • You do not need to choose repair methods or gather quotes today.
  • You do not need to argue liability (insurer vs builder vs neighbour) before the building is made safe.
  • You do not need to move everything out unless an emergency responder/engineer tells you to.

Important reassurance

It’s reasonable to feel shaken by this. A “new and different” bulge is a valid red flag, and the safest response is simply to reduce exposure, keep people back, and get qualified eyes on it quickly.

Scope note

These are first steps to stabilise risk and get the right help moving. Once the immediate safety question is answered, longer decisions (repairs, claims, disputes) may need specialist input.

Important note

This is general, first-step information, not a diagnosis or a guarantee of safety. If you think collapse could be imminent or anyone is at risk, leave the area and call 999.

Additional Resources
Support us