Mold · Clwyd
Brick arch repairs in Mold
Flat soldier arches on Mold 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£370per arch inc VAT
- Postcodes
- CH7
- Population
- about 10,000
- Area
- Clwyd
- Pricing region
- Wales
What is the ground like in Clwyd?
We cover Mold and its postcode districts CH7, part of Clwyd, with a population of roughly 10,000. If you are just outside Mold, we also cover Buckley (2 miles), Connah's Quay (5 miles) and Flint (5 miles).
Parts of Clwyd have clay that can shrink near trees in dry spells. 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.
Repair options we may recommend
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
What to expect when we carry out brick arch repairs
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.
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.
Is it time for brick arch repairs? Common signs
- A flat arch that has started to sag into a shallow curve
- Cracks stepping out from the arch ends into the wall
- Gaps opening between arch bricks at the top or bottom edge
What should you budget for brick arch repairs in Mold?
Guide prices below are for homes in Mold, on Wales 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. | £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 |
Rules 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.
Your brick arch repairs questions
How much should I budget for brick arch repairs in Mold?
Guide prices for brick arch repairs in Mold start from about £370 per arch, including VAT, on Wales 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 Mold?
Yes. We take enquiries from across Mold, including CH7, and from nearby places such as Buckley and Connah's Quay. Send photos for a free initial view and we will tell you what happens next.
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. Only an investigation can say why a particular building has moved.
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.
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.
Related work in Mold
- Mining subsidence repairs
- Gable end wall repairs
- Subsidence insurance claim repairs
- Bay window subsidence repairs
- Resin injection ground stabilisation
Brick arch repairs near Mold
Send a straight-on photo of the dropped or cracked arch at your Mold home, and we will offer a free view on whether it needs reinforcing or rebuilding.