Redruth · Cornwall
Brick arch repairs in Redruth
Before repairing a brick arch at a Redruth property, we check what sits behind it. A rotting timber lintel on the inner face is a frequent hidden cause, and fixing only the visible arch would leave the real problem in place.
Guide price from£410per arch inc VAT
- Postcodes
- TR15, TR16
- Population
- about 43,000
- Area
- Cornwall
- Pricing region
- South West
Why does the ground in Cornwall matter for brick arch repairs?
With roughly 43,000 people, Redruth spans postcode districts TR15, TR16 in Cornwall. Nearby, we also cover Camborne (4 miles), Truro (8 miles) and Falmouth (9 miles).
Clay shrinkage is less of a concern in Cornwall, so other causes such as drains, poor footings or older walls are checked first. Old metal-mine shafts and workings are recorded in places, so mining searches are routine for some properties. What you mostly find across Cornwall: granite and slate-stone cottages, cob buildings, Victorian terraces and post-war estates.
Signs you may need brick arch repairs
- A flat arch that has started to sag into a shallow curve
- The centre bricks of an arch sitting lower than the rest
- A vertical crack running up from the middle of the arch
How much will brick arch repairs cost in Redruth?
The ranges below reflect typical South 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. | £410 – £1,250 | per arch |
| Rebuilding an arch (one side) | £925 – £1,350 | per opening |
| Rebuilding an arch (both sides) | £1,850 – £2,700 | per opening |
Which repair method suits a home in Redruth?
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
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 when we carry out brick arch repairs in Redruth?
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.
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 Redruth: questions and answers
What is the price of brick arch repairs in Redruth?
Guide prices for brick arch repairs in Redruth start from about £410 per arch, including VAT, on South West rates. Your fixed written price follows photos or a survey and depends on the extent of the work and access.
Do you carry out brick arch repairs in Redruth?
We do. Redruth and the surrounding area are covered, including nearby Camborne and Truro. A free initial assessment from your photos is the first step.
Does the ground around Redruth cause cracking?
Cornwall is mostly granite and slate with little shrinkable clay, so clay subsidence is less common than in the south-east. Historic tin and copper mining has left shafts and workings in places such as Camborne and Redruth, and mining searches are routine there. Only an investigation can say why a particular building has moved.
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.
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.
More repairs we carry out in Redruth
- Underpinning
- Wall tie replacement
- Structural surveys and crack monitoring
- Gable end wall repairs
- Lintel replacement
Brick arch repairs near Redruth
Send a straight-on photo of the dropped or cracked arch at your Redruth home, and we will offer a free view on whether it needs reinforcing or rebuilding.