Aberystwyth · Dyfed
Brick arch repairs in Aberystwyth
Before repairing a brick arch at a Aberystwyth 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
- SY23
- Population
- about 19,000
- Area
- Dyfed
- Pricing region
- Wales
What is the ground like in Dyfed?
Aberystwyth (SY23) has around 19,000 residents and sits in Dyfed.
Most of Dyfed is on firmer ground than the clay belts of the south-east. Parts of Dyfed lie on a former coalfield, so a coal mining search is worth checking if movement has no obvious cause. Across Dyfed, most homes are stone cottages, Victorian terraces in Llanelli and Carmarthen, and post-war estates.
How much will brick arch repairs cost in Aberystwyth?
For Aberystwyth we use Wales rates. Treat the table as a budget guide, inc VAT; the price you pay is the one on your written quote.
| 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 |
Which repair method suits a home in Aberystwyth?
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
What happens when we carry out brick arch repairs in Aberystwyth?
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.
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.
Signs you may need brick arch repairs
- Cracks stepping out from the arch ends into the wall
- A vertical crack running up from the middle of the arch
- Gaps opening between arch bricks at the top or bottom edge
Rules 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.
Brick arch repairs in Aberystwyth: questions and answers
What is the price of brick arch repairs in Aberystwyth?
Guide prices for brick arch repairs in Aberystwyth start from about £370 per arch, including VAT, on Wales 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 Aberystwyth?
We do. Aberystwyth and the surrounding area are covered, including nearby Dyfed. A free initial assessment from your photos is the first step.
Does the ground around Aberystwyth cause cracking?
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. 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 Aberystwyth
- Bay window subsidence repairs
- Structural surveys and crack monitoring
- Bowing wall repairs
- Crack stitching
- Mining subsidence repairs
Once the brick and mortar match is agreed for your Aberystwyth arch, we put a fixed price in writing before any work is booked.