Long Eaton · Derbyshire
Brick arch repairs in Long Eaton
A dropped keystone over a front door is a familiar sight on older streets, in Long Eaton 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£390per arch inc VAT
- Postcodes
- NG9, NG10
- Population
- about 48,000
- Area
- Derbyshire
- Pricing region
- East Midlands
How do local ground conditions affect brick arch repairs in Long Eaton?
With roughly 48,000 people, Long Eaton spans postcode districts NG9, NG10 in Derbyshire. We also take enquiries from nearby Ilkeston (5 miles), Nottingham (6 miles) and West Bridgford (6 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.
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.
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.
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.
What to look for before calling about brick arch repairs
- Cracks stepping out from the arch ends into the wall
- A flat arch that has started to sag into a shallow curve
- The centre bricks of an arch sitting lower than the rest
Brick arch repairs prices in Long Eaton
These are guide prices for Long Eaton, using East Midlands rates and including VAT. Your written quote follows photos or a survey, and is fixed once the repair is specified.
| 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 |
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
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
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.
Questions about brick arch repairs in Long Eaton
What is the price of brick arch repairs in Long Eaton?
Guide prices for brick arch repairs in Long Eaton 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.
Do you carry out brick arch repairs in Long Eaton?
We do. Long Eaton and the surrounding area are covered, including nearby Ilkeston and Nottingham. A free initial assessment from your photos is the first step.
Does the ground around Long Eaton cause cracking?
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.
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.
More repairs we carry out in Long Eaton
- Underpinning
- Subsidence insurance claim repairs
- Chimney stack repairs
- Subsidence repairs
- Floor joist repairs
Brick arch repairs near Long Eaton
Once the brick and mortar match is agreed for your Long Eaton arch, we put a fixed price in writing before any work is booked.