Consett · County Durham
Brick arch repairs in Consett
Before repairing a brick arch at a Consett 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£370per arch inc VAT
- Postcodes
- DH8
- Population
- about 29,000
- Area
- County Durham
- Pricing region
- North East
How do local ground conditions affect brick arch repairs in Consett?
Consett (DH8) has around 29,000 residents and sits in County Durham. Nearby places we cover include Stanley (5 miles), Whickham (9 miles) and Blaydon-on-Tyne (9 miles).
Parts of County Durham have clay that can shrink near trees in dry spells. Historic coal workings are recorded beneath parts of County Durham, and a coal mining search is worth checking where movement is unexplained. Across County Durham, most homes are colliery terraces, stone and brick villas in Durham and Darlington, and post-war council estates.
Is it time for brick arch repairs? Common signs
- Gaps opening between arch bricks at the top or bottom edge
- A flat arch that has started to sag into a shallow curve
- A vertical crack running up from the middle of the arch
What should you budget for brick arch repairs in Consett?
These are guide prices for Consett, using North East 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. | £370 – £1,100 | per arch |
| Rebuilding an arch (one side) | £830 – £1,200 | per opening |
| Rebuilding an arch (both sides) | £1,650 – £2,400 | per opening |
Repair options we may recommend
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
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
What to expect when we carry out brick arch repairs
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.
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.
Your brick arch repairs questions
What is the price of brick arch repairs in Consett?
Guide prices for brick arch repairs in Consett start from about £370 per arch, including VAT, on North East 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 Consett?
We do. Consett and the surrounding area are covered, including nearby Stanley and Whickham. A free initial assessment from your photos is the first step.
Does the ground around Consett cause cracking?
Much of County Durham sits on the Durham Coalfield, worked for centuries, often under a cover of glacial clay. Many former pit villages have recorded mine workings, and coal mining searches are standard for property here. 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.
Can a dropped arch be repaired without rebuilding it?
Yes, if the drop is small and the brickwork is in good condition. Bars bonded into the joints above can take the load off the arch and hold it in place. If the bricks are loose or the arch has dropped badly, rebuilding is the more reliable repair.
More repairs we carry out in Consett
- Chimney stack repairs
- Boundary and garden wall repairs
- Concrete repairs
- Floor joist repairs
- Mining subsidence repairs
Brick arch repairs near Consett
If bricks in an arch at your Consett property are loose, photograph them from a safe distance and send them over for advice.