Clwyd · Wales
Brick arch repairs in Clwyd
Clwyd has its own mix of ground and building types, and that shapes how brick arch repairs is done here. Clwyd has a mix of ground, with clay in some places and firmer rock in others.
Guide price from£370per arch inc VAT
- Area
- Clwyd
- Pricing region
- Wales
- Ground
- Clay in parts
- Towns listed
- 9
Is Clwyd prone to ground movement?
The North Wales coalfield runs beneath parts of Wrexham and Flintshire, where historic workings are recorded, while the coast and vale have glacial clays and the hills are older hard rock.
Parts of Clwyd lie on a former coalfield, so a coal mining search is worth checking if movement has no obvious cause. Typical buildings in Clwyd: Brick colliery terraces, seaside villas in Rhyl and Colwyn Bay, and post-war estates.
Guide prices for brick arch repairs in Clwyd
For Clwyd we use Wales 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. | £370 – £1,100 | per arch |
| Rebuilding an arch (one side) | £830 – £1,200 | per opening |
| Rebuilding an arch (both sides) | £1,650 – £2,400 | per opening |
Methods for brick arch repairs
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 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
From first photo to finished repair
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.
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
- Cracks stepping out from the arch ends into the wall
- The centre bricks of an arch sitting lower than the rest
- Gaps opening between arch bricks at the top or bottom edge
- Mortar falling out of the arch joints after frosty weather
Do you need approval for brick arch repairs in Wales?
In Wales, small like-for-like repairs do not usually need approval, but work that alters or strengthens the structure needs building control under the Welsh Building Regulations, and the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 can apply to shared walls.
Find brick arch repairs in your Clwyd town
Frequently asked questions
Why do houses in Clwyd crack?
The North Wales coalfield runs beneath parts of Wrexham and Flintshire, where historic workings are recorded, while the coast and vale have glacial clays and the hills are older hard rock. Parts of Clwyd lie on a former coalfield, so a coal mining search is worth checking if movement has no obvious cause. Only an investigation on site can say why a particular building has moved.
How much will brick arch repairs cost in Clwyd?
On Wales rates, brick arch repairs starts from about £370 per arch, including VAT. The written price depends on the extent of the damage, access and whether an engineer or building control is needed.
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.
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.
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.