Dundee · Angus and Dundee
Brick arch repairs in Dundee
Before repairing a brick arch at a Dundee 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
- DD1, DD2, DD3, DD4, DD5
- Population
- about 150,000
- Area
- Angus and Dundee
- Pricing region
- Scotland
What is the ground like in Angus and Dundee?
Dundee (DD1, DD2, DD3, DD4, DD5) has around 150,000 residents and sits in Angus and Dundee. We also take enquiries from nearby Carnoustie (11 miles), Forfar (12 miles) and Arbroath (16 miles).
Most of Angus and Dundee is on firmer ground than the clay belts of the south-east. Ground movement here is more often linked to soils, drains and trees than to mining. Housing stock in Angus and Dundee: Sandstone tenements in Dundee, fishing-town houses and post-war estates.
How much will brick arch repairs cost in Dundee?
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 Dundee?
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 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
What happens when we carry out brick arch repairs in Dundee?
Look at the arch closely
Straight-on photos of the arch and the wall either side show us how far it has dropped, whether the bricks are sound and whether the cause seems to be the arch itself or the wall around it.
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.
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 flat arch that has started to sag into a shallow curve
- Mortar falling out of the arch joints after frosty weather
- Gaps opening between arch bricks at the top or bottom edge
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 Dundee: questions and answers
What is the price of brick arch repairs in Dundee?
Guide prices for brick arch repairs in Dundee 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 Dundee?
Yes. We take enquiries from across Dundee, including DD1, DD2, DD3, DD4, and from nearby places such as Carnoustie and Forfar. Send photos for a free initial view and we will tell you what happens next.
Does the ground around Dundee cause cracking?
Angus and Dundee sit on Old Red Sandstone and igneous rock with glacial and raised-beach deposits. Hillside sites in Dundee mean retaining walls are common. Only an investigation can say why a particular building has moved.
Should a brick arch be repaired with lime mortar?
On older houses built with soft bricks and lime, yes, in most cases. Lime mortar lets the wall breathe and is weaker than the brick, so any movement or frost damage happens in the joints rather than the bricks. Modern hard brickwork can take a cement-based mortar.
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.
More repairs we carry out in Dundee
- Subsidence insurance claim repairs
- Resin injection ground stabilisation
- Wall tie replacement
- Bay window subsidence repairs
- Lintel replacement
Brick arch repairs near Dundee
Our guide-price tool covers arch reinforcement and rebuilds in Dundee; add a photo and we can say which applies to yours.