County Londonderry · Northern Ireland
Brick arch repairs in County Londonderry
Looking for brick arch repairs in County Londonderry? Send us photos for a free initial view. Most of County Londonderry is on firmer ground than the clay belts of the south-east, so we look at the ground, drains and nearby trees before recommending anything.
Guide price from£350per arch inc VAT
- Area
- County Londonderry
- Pricing region
- Northern Ireland
- Ground
- Mostly firmer ground
- Towns listed
- 4
What should you know about the ground under County Londonderry?
County Londonderry has basalt, older hard rock and glacial deposits, with soft river ground along the Foyle and Bann.
Ground movement here is more often linked to soils, drains and trees than to mining. What you mostly find across County Londonderry: Georgian and Victorian houses in Derry, brick terraces and post-war estates.
How we usually approach brick arch repairs
Rebuilding over a former
A timber former is cut to the arch profile and propped under the opening. The old arch is carefully taken down, bricks cleaned for reuse, and the arch rebuilt over the former with tight joints and a properly set keystone. The former stays until the mortar is strong enough to carry the load.
Best for: Badly dropped arches or ones with loose voussoirs
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 happens during brick arch repairs, step by step?
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.
What to look for before calling about brick arch repairs
- 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
- Cracks stepping out from the arch ends into the wall
Brick arch repairs prices in County Londonderry
Prices in County Londonderry 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 |
Do you need approval 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.
Towns in County Londonderry we cover for brick arch repairs
Questions about brick arch repairs in County Londonderry
Is the ground in County Londonderry prone to subsidence?
County Londonderry has basalt, older hard rock and glacial deposits, with soft river ground along the Foyle and Bann. Ground movement here is more often linked to soils, drains and trees than to mining. Only an investigation on site can say why a particular building has moved.
How much will brick arch repairs cost in County Londonderry?
On Northern Ireland rates, brick arch repairs starts from about £350 per arch, including VAT. The written price depends on the extent of the damage, access and whether an engineer or building control is needed.
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.
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.
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.