Swadlincote · Derbyshire
Brick arch repairs in Swadlincote
Rebuilding an arch in Swadlincote 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
- DE11
- Population
- about 35,000
- Area
- Derbyshire
- Pricing region
- East Midlands
Why does the ground in Derbyshire matter for brick arch repairs?
Swadlincote (DE11) has around 35,000 residents and sits in Derbyshire. If you are just outside Swadlincote, we also cover Burton upon Trent (4 miles), Coalville (9 miles) and Derby (11 miles).
Derbyshire has a mix of ground, with clay in some places and firmer rock in others. Parts of Derbyshire lie on a former coalfield, so a coal mining search is worth checking if movement has no obvious cause. What you mostly find across Derbyshire: brick terraces in former mining towns, gritstone cottages in the Peak, and inter-war and post-war semis.
Symptoms that point to brick arch repairs
- Cracks stepping out from the arch ends into the wall
- Gaps opening between arch bricks at the top or bottom edge
- A flat arch that has started to sag into a shallow curve
Guide prices for brick arch repairs in Swadlincote
Guide prices below are for homes in Swadlincote, on East Midlands rates and including VAT. A survey or good photos let us turn them into a fixed written price.
| 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 |
Methods for brick arch repairs
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
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
From first photo to finished repair
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.
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.
Frequently asked questions
How much should I budget for brick arch repairs in Swadlincote?
Guide prices for brick arch repairs in Swadlincote 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 Swadlincote?
Yes, Swadlincote is covered, along with postcode districts DE11. We also cover nearby Burton upon Trent and Coalville.
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.
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.
Is a dropped brick arch dangerous?
A slightly dropped arch is not usually an immediate danger, but it is no longer carrying load as it should and tends to worsen. Loose bricks that could fall, or a fast-growing crack above, need prompt attention. Do not rely on the window frame to hold it.
Related work in Swadlincote
- Retaining wall repairs
- Subsidence insurance claim repairs
- Subsidence repairs
- Concrete repairs
- Floor joist repairs
Brick arch repairs near Swadlincote
Have several dropped arches along one Swadlincote elevation? We can price them together and suggest the order that makes sense.