Penrith · Cumbria
Brick arch repairs in Penrith
Before repairing a brick arch at a Penrith 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£385per arch inc VAT
- Postcodes
- CA11
- Population
- about 17,000
- Area
- Cumbria
- Pricing region
- North West
What is the ground like in Cumbria?
With roughly 17,000 people, Penrith spans postcode districts CA11 in Cumbria. Nearby places we cover include Carlisle (17 miles) and Kendal (23 miles).
Clay shrinkage is less of a concern in Cumbria, so other causes such as drains, poor footings or older walls are checked first. Parts of Cumbria lie on a former coalfield, so a coal mining search is worth checking if movement has no obvious cause. Across Cumbria, most homes are stone-built terraces and farmhouses, sandstone town houses in Carlisle and post-war estates.
Signs you may need brick arch repairs
- Mortar falling out of the arch joints after frosty weather
- Cracks stepping out from the arch ends into the wall
- The centre bricks of an arch sitting lower than the rest
How much will brick arch repairs cost in Penrith?
For Penrith we use North West 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. | £385 – £1,150 | per arch |
| Rebuilding an arch (one side) | £865 – £1,250 | per opening |
| Rebuilding an arch (both sides) | £1,750 – £2,500 | per opening |
Which repair method suits a home in Penrith?
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 when we carry out brick arch repairs in Penrith?
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.
Rules for brick arch repairs in England
Like-for-like repairs such as crack stitching and repointing do not usually need building control approval in England, but anything that changes or strengthens the structure, such as underpinning or rebuilding a wall, does. If the work touches a party wall, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 may apply.
Brick arch repairs in Penrith: questions and answers
What is the price of brick arch repairs in Penrith?
Guide prices for brick arch repairs in Penrith start from about £385 per arch, including VAT, on North West 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 Penrith?
Yes. We take enquiries from across Penrith, including CA11, and from nearby places such as Carlisle and Kendal. Send photos for a free initial view and we will tell you what happens next.
Does the ground around Penrith cause cracking?
Cumbria's ground is largely hard rock and glacial deposits, with the West Cumberland coalfield around Whitehaven and Workington where historic coal workings are recorded. Stone walls and older lime mortars feature in much of the housing. Only an investigation can say why a particular building has moved.
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.
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 Penrith
- Structural surveys and crack monitoring
- Subsidence repairs
- Boundary and garden wall repairs
- Structural crack repairs
- Gable end wall repairs
Brick arch repairs near Penrith
Request a written, no-obligation price for arch repairs in Penrith; every arch is itemised, along with any work needed on the inside face.