Ballymena · County Antrim
Brick arch repairs in Ballymena
Before repairing a brick arch at a Ballymena 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£350per arch inc VAT
- Postcodes
- BT42, BT43
- Population
- about 29,000
- Area
- County Antrim
- Pricing region
- Northern Ireland
What should you know about the ground under Ballymena?
Ballymena is in County Antrim and takes in postcode districts BT42, BT43. About 29,000 people live there. Nearby places we cover include Antrim (10 miles), Magherafelt (15 miles) and Ballymoney (17 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. What you mostly find across County Antrim: red-brick terraces in Belfast, Victorian villas, and post-war and newer estates.
Is it time for brick arch repairs? Common signs
- The centre bricks of an arch sitting lower than the rest
- A vertical crack running up from the middle of the arch
- A flat arch that has started to sag into a shallow curve
What should you budget for brick arch repairs in Ballymena?
Prices in Ballymena 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.
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.
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.
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
What is the price of brick arch repairs in Ballymena?
Guide prices for brick arch repairs in Ballymena 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 carry out brick arch repairs in Ballymena?
We do. Ballymena and the surrounding area are covered, including nearby Antrim and Magherafelt. A free initial assessment from your photos is the first step.
Does the ground around Ballymena cause cracking?
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.
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.
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.
More repairs we carry out in Ballymena
Brick arch repairs near Ballymena
If bricks in an arch at your Ballymena property are loose, photograph them from a safe distance and send them over for advice.