Macclesfield · Cheshire
Brick arch repairs in Macclesfield
A dropped keystone over a front door is a familiar sight on older streets, in Macclesfield and beyond, and it rarely fixes itself. We look at whether the arch bricks are sound and whether the wall either side has moved, then recommend the lighter repair where it will work.
Guide price from£385per arch inc VAT
- Postcodes
- SK9, SK10, SK11
- Population
- about 54,000
- Area
- Cheshire
- Pricing region
- North West
Is Cheshire prone to ground movement?
Macclesfield is in Cheshire and takes in postcode districts SK9, SK10, SK11. About 54,000 people live there. If you are just outside Macclesfield, we also cover Wilmslow (6 miles), Congleton (8 miles) and Cheadle Hulme (8 miles).
Parts of Cheshire have clay that can shrink near trees in dry spells. Historic brine and salt working has caused ground movement in parts of Cheshire in the past. Typical buildings in Cheshire: Brick terraces in Crewe, Northwich and Warrington, Victorian villas in Chester, and inter-war and post-war semis.
Guide prices for brick arch repairs in Macclesfield
For Macclesfield we use North West rates. Treat the table as a budget guide, inc VAT; the price you pay is the one on your written quote.
| Item | Guide price | Per |
|---|---|---|
| Stitching and reinforcing a sound archest. | £385 – £1,150 | per arch |
| Rebuilding an arch (one side) | £865 – £1,250 | per opening |
| Rebuilding an arch (both sides) | £1,750 – £2,500 | per opening |
Methods for brick arch repairs
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
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
From first photo to finished repair
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.
Support the opening
Props carry the brickwork above, and for a rebuild a former is made to the exact profile of the arch. The window or door frame is protected so it is not asked to carry any load.
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.
Symptoms that point to brick arch repairs
- A vertical crack running up from the middle of the arch
- Gaps opening between arch bricks at the top or bottom edge
- The centre bricks of an arch sitting lower than the rest
Rules for brick arch repairs in England
Like-for-like repairs such as crack stitching and repointing do not usually need building control approval in England, but anything that changes or strengthens the structure, such as underpinning or rebuilding a wall, does. If the work touches a party wall, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 may apply.
Frequently asked questions
What is the price of brick arch repairs in Macclesfield?
Guide prices for brick arch repairs in Macclesfield start from about £385 per arch, including VAT, on North West 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 Macclesfield?
Yes. We take enquiries from across Macclesfield, including SK9, SK10, SK11, and from nearby places such as Wilmslow and Congleton. Send photos for a free initial view and we will tell you what happens next.
Does the ground around Macclesfield cause cracking?
Most of Cheshire is glacial till over Mercia Mudstone. Around Northwich and the Weaver valley, historic salt and brine extraction has caused subsidence in the past, and a separate brine subsidence compensation scheme exists for parts of the county. Only an investigation can say why a particular building has moved.
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.
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 Macclesfield
- Lintel replacement
- Crack stitching
- Bay window subsidence repairs
- Wall tie replacement
- Structural crack repairs
Brick arch repairs near Macclesfield
Send a straight-on photo of the dropped or cracked arch at your Macclesfield home, and we will offer a free view on whether it needs reinforcing or rebuilding.