Coleraine · County Londonderry
Brick arch repairs in Coleraine
A dropped keystone over a front door is a familiar sight on older streets, in Coleraine and beyond, and it rarely fixes itself. We look at whether the arch bricks are sound and whether the wall either side has moved, then recommend the lighter repair where it will work.
Guide price from£350per arch inc VAT
- Postcodes
- BT52
- Population
- about 26,000
- Area
- County Londonderry
- Pricing region
- Northern Ireland
Is County Londonderry prone to ground movement?
We cover Coleraine and its postcode districts BT52, part of County Londonderry, with a population of roughly 26,000. Nearby, we also cover Ballymoney (7 miles), Limavady (13 miles) and Ballymena (24 miles).
Most of County Londonderry 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. Across County Londonderry, most homes are Georgian and Victorian houses in Derry, brick terraces and post-war estates.
From first photo to finished repair
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.
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.
Symptoms that point to brick arch repairs
- Gaps opening between arch bricks at the top or bottom edge
- Cracks stepping out from the arch ends into the wall
- The centre bricks of an arch sitting lower than the rest
Guide prices for brick arch repairs in Coleraine
For Coleraine we use Northern Ireland rates. Treat the table as a budget guide, inc VAT; the price you pay is the one on your written quote.
| 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 |
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
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
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
What is the price of brick arch repairs in Coleraine?
Guide prices for brick arch repairs in Coleraine 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 Coleraine?
We do. Coleraine and the surrounding area are covered, including nearby Ballymoney and Limavady. A free initial assessment from your photos is the first step.
Does the ground around Coleraine cause cracking?
County Londonderry has basalt, older hard rock and glacial deposits, with soft river ground along the Foyle and Bann. 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.
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.
More repairs we carry out in Coleraine
- Retaining wall repairs
- Lintel replacement
- Concrete repairs
- Wall tie replacement
- Subsidence insurance claim repairs
Brick arch repairs near Coleraine
If bricks in an arch at your Coleraine property are loose, photograph them from a safe distance and send them over for advice.