Northwich · Cheshire
Brick arch repairs in Northwich
Before repairing a brick arch at a Northwich 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£385per arch inc VAT
- Postcodes
- CW9
- Population
- about 47,000
- Area
- Cheshire
- Pricing region
- North West
Why does the ground in Cheshire matter for brick arch repairs?
With roughly 47,000 people, Northwich spans postcode districts CW9 in Cheshire. We also take enquiries from nearby Winsford (5 miles), Warrington (10 miles) and Sandbach (10 miles).
Clay soils are found in parts of Cheshire. Historic brine and salt working has caused ground movement in parts of Cheshire in the past. Across Cheshire, most homes are brick terraces in Crewe, Northwich and Warrington, Victorian villas in Chester, and inter-war and post-war semis.
Which repair method suits a home in Northwich?
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
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 Northwich?
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.
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
- Mortar falling out of the arch joints after frosty weather
- A flat arch that has started to sag into a shallow curve
- Gaps opening between arch bricks at the top or bottom edge
How much will brick arch repairs cost in Northwich?
For Northwich 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 |
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.
Brick arch repairs in Northwich: questions and answers
What is the price of brick arch repairs in Northwich?
Guide prices for brick arch repairs in Northwich 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 Northwich?
Yes. We take enquiries from across Northwich, including CW9, and from nearby places such as Winsford and Warrington. Send photos for a free initial view and we will tell you what happens next.
Does the ground around Northwich 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.
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.
Can a dropped arch be repaired without rebuilding it?
Yes, if the drop is small and the brickwork is in good condition. Bars bonded into the joints above can take the load off the arch and hold it in place. If the bricks are loose or the arch has dropped badly, rebuilding is the more reliable repair.
More repairs we carry out in Northwich
- Concrete repairs
- Bowing wall repairs
- Structural surveys and crack monitoring
- Structural crack repairs
- Roof structure repairs
Brick arch repairs near Northwich
Send a straight-on photo of the dropped or cracked arch at your Northwich home, and we will offer a free view on whether it needs reinforcing or rebuilding.