Wrexham · Clwyd
Brick arch repairs in Wrexham
Rebuilding an arch in Wrexham 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£370per arch inc VAT
- Postcodes
- LL11, LL12, LL13
- Population
- about 66,000
- Area
- Clwyd
- Pricing region
- Wales
Why does the ground in Clwyd matter for brick arch repairs?
Wrexham, Clwyd: about 66,000 residents across postcode districts LL11, LL12, LL13. If you are just outside Wrexham, we also cover Buckley (9 miles), Mold (10 miles) and Connah's Quay (11 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. What you mostly find across Clwyd: brick colliery terraces, seaside villas in Rhyl and Colwyn Bay, and post-war estates.
How we usually approach brick arch repairs
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
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 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.
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.
What to look for before calling about brick arch repairs
- A flat arch that has started to sag into a shallow curve
- Gaps opening between arch bricks at the top or bottom edge
- The centre bricks of an arch sitting lower than the rest
Brick arch repairs prices in Wrexham
Prices in Wrexham are worked out on Wales rates. They include VAT and are a starting point: access, the extent of the damage and whether an engineer or building control is involved all move the figure.
| 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.
Questions about brick arch repairs in Wrexham
How much should I budget for brick arch repairs in Wrexham?
Guide prices for brick arch repairs in Wrexham 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 Wrexham?
We do. Wrexham and the surrounding area are covered, including nearby Buckley and Mold. A free initial assessment from your photos is the first step.
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.
Why has the middle of my brick arch dropped?
The centre of an arch usually drops because the bricks have lost their wedge, either because the wall at the sides has moved or the mortar has worn away. A rotting timber hidden behind the arch is another common cause. The keystone slipping is the visible result.
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 Wrexham
- Structural crack repairs
- Bowing wall repairs
- Wall tie replacement
- Extension pulling away repairs
- Lintel replacement
Brick arch repairs near Wrexham
Send a straight-on photo of the dropped or cracked arch at your Wrexham home, and we will offer a free view on whether it needs reinforcing or rebuilding.