Newtownards · County Down
Brick arch repairs in Newtownards
Flat soldier arches on Newtownards houses tend to sag once a hidden bar rusts or an old window frame is replaced. Reinforcing them with stainless bars in the joints above is often enough, without taking the arch down.
Guide price from£350per arch inc VAT
- Postcodes
- BT23
- Population
- about 29,000
- Area
- County Down
- Pricing region
- Northern Ireland
How do local ground conditions affect brick arch repairs in Newtownards?
Newtownards, County Down: about 29,000 residents across postcode districts BT23. If you are just outside Newtownards, we also cover Bangor (5 miles), Holywood (6 miles) and Downpatrick (18 miles).
Most of County Down 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. What you mostly find across County Down: Victorian seaside houses in Bangor and Holywood, brick terraces and post-war estates.
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.
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.
Is it time for brick arch repairs? Common signs
- The centre bricks of an arch sitting lower than the rest
- Mortar falling out of the arch joints after frosty weather
- A vertical crack running up from the middle of the arch
What should you budget for brick arch repairs in Newtownards?
The ranges below reflect typical Northern Ireland 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. | £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
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
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
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 should I budget for brick arch repairs in Newtownards?
Guide prices for brick arch repairs in Newtownards 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 Newtownards?
We do. Newtownards and the surrounding area are covered, including nearby Bangor and Holywood. A free initial assessment from your photos is the first step.
Why do houses in County Down crack?
County Down is mostly drumlin till over older rock and granite in the Mournes, with soft estuarine ground around Belfast Lough and Strangford. Only an investigation can say why a particular building has moved.
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.
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.
Related work in Newtownards
- Structural crack repairs
- Crack stitching
- Lintel replacement
- Retaining wall repairs
- Chimney stack repairs
Brick arch repairs near Newtownards
Send a straight-on photo of the dropped or cracked arch at your Newtownards home, and we will offer a free view on whether it needs reinforcing or rebuilding.