Wilmslow · Cheshire
Brick arch repairs in Wilmslow
Flat soldier arches on Wilmslow houses tend to sag once a hidden bar rusts or an old window frame is replaced. Reinforcing them with stainless bars in the joints above is often enough, without taking the arch down.
Guide price from£385per arch inc VAT
- Postcodes
- M90, SK9
- Population
- about 26,000
- Area
- Cheshire
- Pricing region
- North West
What is the ground like in Cheshire?
Postcode districts M90, SK9 cover Wilmslow, a Cheshire town of about 26,000 people. If you are just outside Wilmslow, we also cover Cheadle Hulme (4 miles), Altrincham (6 miles) and Macclesfield (6 miles).
Cheshire has a mix of ground, with clay in some places and firmer rock in others. Historic brine and salt working has caused ground movement in parts of Cheshire in the past. Housing stock in Cheshire: Brick terraces in Crewe, Northwich and Warrington, Victorian villas in Chester, and inter-war and post-war semis.
Signs you may need brick arch repairs
- Cracks stepping out from the arch ends into the wall
- A flat arch that has started to sag into a shallow curve
- A vertical crack running up from the middle of the arch
How much will brick arch repairs cost in Wilmslow?
The ranges below reflect typical North West 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. | £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 |
Which repair method suits a home in Wilmslow?
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 Wilmslow?
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.
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 Wilmslow: questions and answers
How much should I budget for brick arch repairs in Wilmslow?
Guide prices for brick arch repairs in Wilmslow 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 Wilmslow?
Yes, Wilmslow is covered, along with postcode districts M90, SK9. We also cover nearby Cheadle Hulme and Altrincham.
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.
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.
Related work in Wilmslow
- Structural surveys and crack monitoring
- Roof structure repairs
- Extension pulling away repairs
- Underpinning
- Retaining wall repairs
Brick arch repairs near Wilmslow
Request a written, no-obligation price for arch repairs in Wilmslow; every arch is itemised, along with any work needed on the inside face.