Brick arch repairs in Aberdeen

Postcodes: AB10, AB11, AB12, AB15, AB16
Population: about 200,000
Area: Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire
Pricing region: Scotland

Why does the ground in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire matter for brick arch repairs?

Aberdeen (AB10, AB11, AB12, AB15, AB16) has around 200,000 residents and sits in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire. Neighbouring towns we cover: Westhill (7 miles), Stonehaven (13 miles) and Inverurie (14 miles).

Shrinkable clay is less common in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire than in south-east England. Ground movement here is more often linked to soils, drains and trees than to mining. What you mostly find across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire: granite tenements and terraces in Aberdeen, fishing-town cottages and post-war estates.

Brick arch repairs prices in Aberdeen

The ranges below reflect typical Scotland costs for brick arch repairs, including VAT. Scaffold, access and making good can push a job to the top of the range.

Guide prices inc VAT on Scotland rates. Items marked est. are our estimates.
Item	Guide price	Per
Stitching and reinforcing a sound archest.	£380 – £1,150	per arch
Rebuilding an arch (one side)	£855 – £1,250	per opening
Rebuilding an arch (both sides)	£1,700 – £2,450	per opening

How we usually approach brick arch repairs

Lime mortar repairs

On older houses built in soft brick and lime, the arch is rebuilt or repointed in a lime mortar matched to the original. Lime lets moisture escape and moves slightly with the wall, so it protects the bricks rather than forcing damage into them, as hard cement mortar can.

Best for: Pre-1919 houses and soft historic brick

Rebuilding over a former

A timber former is cut to the arch profile and propped under the opening. The old arch is carefully taken down, bricks cleaned for reuse, and the arch rebuilt over the former with tight joints and a properly set keystone. The former stays until the mortar is strong enough to carry the load.

Best for: Badly dropped arches or ones with loose voussoirs

What happens during brick arch repairs, step by step?

Choose reinforce or rebuild
We recommend reinforcement where the arch is sound and only slightly displaced, and a rebuild where it has dropped badly or bricks are loose. If the wall beside the opening is moving, that is dealt with first.
Repair the arch
Bars are bonded into the joints above a sound arch, or the arch is taken down and relaid over the former using the original bricks where possible, with matched replacements for any that are damaged.
Strike the former and point
Once the mortar has cured enough, the former and props are removed. Joints are finished to match the surrounding wall, and any cracks running from the arch into the wall are repaired at the same visit.

What to look for before calling about brick arch repairs

The centre bricks of an arch sitting lower than the rest
A flat arch that has started to sag into a shallow curve
Cracks stepping out from the arch ends into the wall

Rules for brick arch repairs in Scotland

In Scotland, small repairs often do not need a building warrant, but structural alterations and strengthening generally do. Check with the council’s building standards service if unsure; there is no Party Wall Act in Scotland.

Questions about brick arch repairs in Aberdeen

How much should I budget for brick arch repairs in Aberdeen?

Guide prices for brick arch repairs in Aberdeen start from about £380 per arch, including VAT, on Scotland rates. Your fixed written price follows photos or a survey and depends on the extent of the work and access.

Can you survey a property in Aberdeen?

Yes. We take enquiries from across Aberdeen, including AB10, AB11, AB12, AB15, and from nearby places such as Westhill and Stonehaven. Send photos for a free initial view and we will tell you what happens next.

Why do houses in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire crack?

The north-east is mostly granite and other hard rock with glacial till and sands, so clay shrinkage is uncommon. Granite buildings, older lime mortars and coastal exposure shape most repairs. Only an investigation can say why a particular building has moved.

Do flat brick arches need a lintel?

Many flat soldier arches were built with a hidden steel bar or timber behind, because they have little true arch action. When repairing one, we check what is supporting it and, where needed, reinforce it with bars or add suitable support behind.

Why has the middle of my brick arch dropped?

The centre of an arch usually drops because the bricks have lost their wedge, either because the wall at the sides has moved or the mortar has worn away. A rotting timber hidden behind the arch is another common cause. The keystone slipping is the visible result.

Related work in Aberdeen

Brick arch repairs near Aberdeen

Have several dropped arches along one Aberdeen elevation? We can price them together and suggest the order that makes sense.