Dyfed · Wales
Brick arch repairs in Dyfed
Across Dyfed, requests for brick arch repairs usually begin with a crack someone has noticed getting wider. Clay shrinkage is less of a concern in Dyfed, so other causes such as drains, poor footings or older walls are checked first. A repair only lasts if the reason for the movement has stopped.
Guide price from£370per arch inc VAT
- Area
- Dyfed
- Pricing region
- Wales
- Ground
- Mostly firmer ground
- Towns listed
- 6
What is the ground like in Dyfed?
The western edge of the South Wales coalfield lies beneath Llanelli, Ammanford and parts of Pembrokeshire, while the rest of the area is older hard rock with glacial deposits in the valleys.
Parts of Dyfed lie on a former coalfield, so a coal mining search is worth checking if movement has no obvious cause. Housing stock in Dyfed: Stone cottages, Victorian terraces in Llanelli and Carmarthen, and post-war estates.
What should you budget for brick arch repairs in Dyfed?
The ranges below reflect typical Wales costs for brick arch repairs, including VAT. Scaffold, access and making good can push a job to the top of the range.
| 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
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 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
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
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.
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.
Is it time for brick arch repairs? Common signs
- A vertical crack running up from the middle of the arch
- Mortar falling out of the arch joints after frosty weather
- The centre bricks of an arch sitting lower than the rest
- A flat arch that has started to sag into a shallow curve
Do you need approval for brick arch repairs in Wales?
In Wales, small like-for-like repairs do not usually need approval, but work that alters or strengthens the structure needs building control under the Welsh Building Regulations, and the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 can apply to shared walls.
Towns in Dyfed we cover for brick arch repairs
Your brick arch repairs questions
Is the ground in Dyfed prone to subsidence?
The western edge of the South Wales coalfield lies beneath Llanelli, Ammanford and parts of Pembrokeshire, while the rest of the area is older hard rock with glacial deposits in the valleys. Parts of Dyfed lie on a former coalfield, so a coal mining search is worth checking if movement has no obvious cause. Only an investigation on site can say why a particular building has moved.
How much will brick arch repairs cost in Dyfed?
On Wales rates, brick arch repairs starts from about £370 per arch, including VAT. The written price depends on the extent of the damage, access and whether an engineer or building control is needed.
Can you match the original bricks?
Usually, because most arches are rebuilt with their own cleaned bricks, which is the best match of all. Damaged bricks are replaced with reclaimed or new bricks chosen for size, colour and texture, and the mortar is matched to the surrounding joints.
Should a brick arch be repaired with lime mortar?
On older houses built with soft bricks and lime, yes, in most cases. Lime mortar lets the wall breathe and is weaker than the brick, so any movement or frost damage happens in the joints rather than the bricks. Modern hard brickwork can take a cement-based mortar.
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.