Ellon · Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire
Brick arch repairs in Ellon
Before repairing a brick arch at a Ellon property, we check what sits behind it. A rotting timber lintel on the inner face is a frequent hidden cause, and fixing only the visible arch would leave the real problem in place.
Guide price from£380per arch inc VAT
- Postcodes
- AB41
- Population
- about 10,000
- Area
- Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire
- Pricing region
- Scotland
What is the ground like in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire?
Ellon is in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire and takes in postcode districts AB41. About 10,000 people live there. If you are just outside Ellon, we also cover Inverurie (13 miles), Peterhead (15 miles) and Aberdeen (15 miles).
Clay shrinkage is less of a concern in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, so other causes such as drains, poor footings or older walls are checked first. Ground movement here is more often linked to soils, drains and trees than to mining. Across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, most homes are granite tenements and terraces in Aberdeen, fishing-town cottages and post-war estates.
What happens when we carry out brick arch repairs in Ellon?
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.
Signs you may need brick arch repairs
- A vertical crack running up from the middle of the arch
- Cracks stepping out from the arch ends into the wall
- A flat arch that has started to sag into a shallow curve
How much will brick arch repairs cost in Ellon?
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.
| 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 |
Which repair method suits a home in Ellon?
Rebuilding both faces
Where the arch shows inside as well as outside, or a rotten timber behind it has also failed, both faces are rebuilt. The inner timber is replaced with a suitable lintel, and the outer arch is reformed in front. The two are worked in sequence so the wall is supported throughout.
Best for: Arches with a failed timber or inner face
Reinforcing a sound arch
Where the arch has only dropped slightly and the bricks are sound, stainless helical bars are bonded into the bed joints just above it, extending well into the wall on each side. The bars turn the courses above into a reinforced band of masonry, so the arch no longer has to carry the full load. Joints are repointed to match.
Best for: Slightly dropped or cracked arches with sound bricks
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.
Brick arch repairs in Ellon: questions and answers
What is the price of brick arch repairs in Ellon?
Guide prices for brick arch repairs in Ellon 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.
Do you carry out brick arch repairs in Ellon?
Yes, Ellon is covered, along with postcode districts AB41. We also cover nearby Inverurie and Peterhead.
Does the ground around Ellon cause cracking?
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.
Is a dropped brick arch dangerous?
A slightly dropped arch is not usually an immediate danger, but it is no longer carrying load as it should and tends to worsen. Loose bricks that could fall, or a fast-growing crack above, need prompt attention. Do not rely on the window frame to hold it.
More repairs we carry out in Ellon
- Wall tie replacement
- Resin injection ground stabilisation
- Subsidence insurance claim repairs
- Gable end wall repairs
- Concrete repairs
Brick arch repairs near Ellon
Send a straight-on photo of the dropped or cracked arch at your Ellon home, and we will offer a free view on whether it needs reinforcing or rebuilding.