Christchurch · Dorset
Brick arch repairs in Christchurch
Before repairing a brick arch at a Christchurch 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£410per arch inc VAT
- Postcodes
- BH6, BH7, BH23
- Population
- about 31,000
- Area
- Dorset
- Pricing region
- South West
Why does the ground in Dorset matter for brick arch repairs?
Christchurch (BH6, BH7, BH23) has around 31,000 residents and sits in Dorset. Nearby places we cover include Bournemouth (4 miles), New Milton (5 miles) and Ferndown (7 miles).
Dorset has a mix of ground, with clay in some places and firmer rock in others. Ground movement here is more often linked to soils, drains and trees than to mining. Typical buildings in Dorset: Stone and brick villages, Victorian villas in Bournemouth, and inter-war and post-war semis.
What happens when we carry out brick arch repairs in Christchurch?
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.
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.
Signs you may need brick arch repairs
- Mortar falling out of the arch joints after frosty weather
- A vertical crack running up from the middle of the arch
- A flat arch that has started to sag into a shallow curve
How much will brick arch repairs cost in Christchurch?
Prices in Christchurch are worked out on South West rates. They include VAT and are a starting point: access, the extent of the damage and whether an engineer or building control is involved all move the figure.
| Item | Guide price | Per |
|---|---|---|
| Stitching and reinforcing a sound archest. | £410 – £1,250 | per arch |
| Rebuilding an arch (one side) | £925 – £1,350 | per opening |
| Rebuilding an arch (both sides) | £1,850 – £2,700 | per opening |
Which repair method suits a home in Christchurch?
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
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 Christchurch: questions and answers
What is the price of brick arch repairs in Christchurch?
Guide prices for brick arch repairs in Christchurch start from about £410 per arch, including VAT, on South 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 Christchurch?
We do. Christchurch and the surrounding area are covered, including nearby Bournemouth and New Milton. A free initial assessment from your photos is the first step.
Does the ground around Christchurch cause cracking?
Dorset mixes chalk downs, Oxford and Kimmeridge Clays in the vales, and the sands and gravels of the Poole basin. Clay vales can shrink and swell, and parts of the coast are known for landslip. 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.
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 Christchurch
- Retaining wall repairs
- Underpinning
- Subsidence repairs
- Extension pulling away repairs
- Resin injection ground stabilisation
Brick arch repairs near Christchurch
Once the brick and mortar match is agreed for your Christchurch arch, we put a fixed price in writing before any work is booked.