Warrington · Cheshire
Brick arch repairs in Warrington
Rebuilding an arch in Warrington is a precise job: a former cut to the exact curve, tight joints and a keystone set at the right height. Done well, the new arch looks as though it was always there.
Guide price from£385per arch inc VAT
- Postcodes
- WA1, WA2, WA4
- Population
- about 170,000
- Area
- Cheshire
- Pricing region
- North West
What should you know about the ground under Warrington?
Postcode districts WA1, WA2, WA4 cover Warrington, a Cheshire town of about 170,000 people. If you are just outside Warrington, we also cover Widnes (7 miles), Ashton-in-Makerfield (7 miles) and Irlam (7 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.
What to look for before calling about brick arch repairs
- Mortar falling out of the arch joints after frosty weather
- Gaps opening between arch bricks at the top or bottom edge
- A vertical crack running up from the middle of the arch
Brick arch repairs prices in Warrington
Guide prices below are for homes in Warrington, on North West rates and including VAT. A survey or good photos let us turn them into a fixed written price.
| 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 |
How we usually approach brick arch repairs
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
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
What happens during brick arch repairs, step by step?
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.
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.
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.
Questions about brick arch repairs in Warrington
How much should I budget for brick arch repairs in Warrington?
Guide prices for brick arch repairs in Warrington 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.
Can you survey a property in Warrington?
We do. Warrington and the surrounding area are covered, including nearby Widnes and Ashton-in-Makerfield. A free initial assessment from your photos is the first step.
Why do houses in Cheshire crack?
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.
What is a former in arch building?
A former, sometimes called a centre, is a temporary timber frame cut to the exact shape of the arch. It supports the bricks while the arch is laid and the mortar cures, and is removed once the arch can carry itself.
Can you match the original bricks?
Usually, because most arches are rebuilt with their own cleaned bricks, which is the best match of all. Damaged bricks are replaced with reclaimed or new bricks chosen for size, colour and texture, and the mortar is matched to the surrounding joints.
Related work in Warrington
- Resin injection ground stabilisation
- Gable end wall repairs
- Subsidence insurance claim repairs
- Roof structure repairs
- Retaining wall repairs
Brick arch repairs near Warrington
Our guide-price tool covers arch reinforcement and rebuilds in Warrington; add a photo and we can say which applies to yours.