Armagh · County Armagh
Brick arch repairs in Armagh
Rebuilding an arch in Armagh 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£350per arch inc VAT
- Postcodes
- BT61
- Population
- about 15,000
- Area
- County Armagh
- Pricing region
- Northern Ireland
Is County Armagh prone to ground movement?
With roughly 15,000 people, Armagh spans postcode districts BT61 in County Armagh. Neighbouring towns we cover: Portadown (10 miles), Dungannon (11 miles) and Craigavon (13 miles).
Most of County Armagh is on firmer ground than the clay belts of the south-east. Ground movement here is more often linked to soils, drains and trees than to mining. Housing stock in County Armagh: Georgian houses in Armagh, brick terraces in Portadown and Lurgan, and post-war estates.
Methods for brick arch repairs
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
From first photo to finished repair
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.
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.
Symptoms that point to 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
- Mortar falling out of the arch joints after frosty weather
Guide prices for brick arch repairs in Armagh
Guide prices below are for homes in Armagh, on Northern Ireland 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. | £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 |
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.
Frequently asked questions
How much should I budget for brick arch repairs in Armagh?
Guide prices for brick arch repairs in Armagh 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.
Can you survey a property in Armagh?
Yes. We take enquiries from across Armagh, including BT61, and from nearby places such as Portadown and Dungannon. Send photos for a free initial view and we will tell you what happens next.
Why do houses in County Armagh crack?
County Armagh has glacial drumlin till over older rock, with soft ground and peat near Lough Neagh. Only an investigation can say why a particular building has moved.
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.
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.
Related work in Armagh
Brick arch repairs near Armagh
Our guide-price tool covers arch reinforcement and rebuilds in Armagh; add a photo and we can say which applies to yours.