Antrim · County Antrim
Brick arch repairs in Antrim
Older Antrim houses often carry their window and door heads on brick arches built without any steel at all. When the centre bricks slip, the arch either needs reinforcing in place or rebuilding over a timber former.
Guide price from£350per arch inc VAT
- Postcodes
- BT41
- Population
- about 20,000
- Area
- County Antrim
- Pricing region
- Northern Ireland
How do local ground conditions affect brick arch repairs in Antrim?
We cover Antrim and its postcode districts BT41, part of County Antrim, with a population of roughly 20,000. Nearby places we cover include Ballymena (10 miles), Newtownabbey (13 miles) and Belfast (14 miles).
Shrinkable clay is less common in County Antrim than in south-east England. Historic brine and salt working has caused ground movement in parts of County Antrim in the past. Across County Antrim, most homes are red-brick terraces in Belfast, Victorian villas, and post-war and newer estates.
What should you budget for brick arch repairs in Antrim?
Prices in Antrim are worked out on Northern Ireland 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. | £350 – £1,050 | per arch |
| Rebuilding an arch (one side) | £790 – £1,150 | per opening |
| Rebuilding an arch (both sides) | £1,600 – £2,300 | per opening |
Repair options we may recommend
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
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 to expect when we carry out brick arch repairs
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.
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
- Mortar falling out of the arch joints after frosty weather
- A vertical crack running up from the middle of the arch
- The centre bricks of an arch sitting lower than the rest
Rules for brick arch repairs in Northern Ireland
In Northern Ireland, minor repairs usually need no approval, but structural work comes under the Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 and council building control. There is no Party Wall Act in Northern Ireland.
Your brick arch repairs questions
How much will brick arch repairs cost in Antrim?
Guide prices for brick arch repairs in Antrim start from about £350 per arch, including VAT, on Northern Ireland rates. Your fixed written price follows photos or a survey and depends on the extent of the work and access.
Do you cover Antrim?
We do. Antrim and the surrounding area are covered, including nearby Ballymena and Newtownabbey. A free initial assessment from your photos is the first step.
Is the ground in County Antrim prone to subsidence?
County Antrim is largely basalt over chalk, with soft estuarine 'sleech' along Belfast Lough that is notorious for settlement. Historic salt mining is recorded near Carrickfergus. 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.
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.
Other structural repairs in Antrim
- Roof structure repairs
- Structural surveys and crack monitoring
- Floor joist repairs
- Lintel replacement
- Chimney stack repairs
Brick arch repairs near Antrim
Send a straight-on photo of the dropped or cracked arch at your Antrim home, and we will offer a free view on whether it needs reinforcing or rebuilding.