Derby · Derbyshire
Brick arch repairs in Derby
Rebuilding an arch in Derby 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£390per arch inc VAT
- Postcodes
- DE1, DE22, DE23
- Population
- about 270,000
- Area
- Derbyshire
- Pricing region
- East Midlands
What should you know about the ground under Derby?
We cover Derby and its postcode districts DE1, DE22, DE23, part of Derbyshire, with a population of roughly 270,000. Neighbouring towns we cover: Belper (7 miles), Ilkeston (8 miles) and Heanor (8 miles).
Parts of Derbyshire have clay that can shrink near trees in dry spells. Parts of Derbyshire lie on a former coalfield, so a coal mining search is worth checking if movement has no obvious cause. Across Derbyshire, most homes are brick terraces in former mining towns, gritstone cottages in the Peak, and inter-war and post-war semis.
Methods for brick arch repairs
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
Rebuilding both faces
Where the arch shows inside as well as outside, or a rotten timber behind it has also failed, both faces are rebuilt. The inner timber is replaced with a suitable lintel, and the outer arch is reformed in front. The two are worked in sequence so the wall is supported throughout.
Best for: Arches with a failed timber or inner face
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
- Mortar falling out of the arch joints after frosty weather
- Cracks stepping out from the arch ends into the wall
- Gaps opening between arch bricks at the top or bottom edge
Guide prices for brick arch repairs in Derby
For Derby we use East Midlands 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. | £390 – £1,200 | per arch |
| Rebuilding an arch (one side) | £880 – £1,250 | per opening |
| Rebuilding an arch (both sides) | £1,750 – £2,550 | per opening |
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.
Frequently asked questions
How much should I budget for brick arch repairs in Derby?
Guide prices for brick arch repairs in Derby start from about £390 per arch, including VAT, on East Midlands 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 Derby?
Yes. We take enquiries from across Derby, including DE1, DE22, DE23, and from nearby places such as Belper and Ilkeston. Send photos for a free initial view and we will tell you what happens next.
Why do houses in Derbyshire crack?
East Derbyshire, including Chesterfield, Ilkeston and Heanor, lies on the Coal Measures with a long history of shallow and deep coal mining. The Peak District to the west is limestone and gritstone, and Derby itself sits largely on Mercia Mudstone. 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.
Related work in Derby
- Floor joist repairs
- Subsidence repairs
- Wall tie replacement
- Extension pulling away repairs
- Chimney stack repairs
Brick arch repairs near Derby
Request a written, no-obligation price for arch repairs in Derby; every arch is itemised, along with any work needed on the inside face.