Bexhill-on-Sea · East Sussex
Brick arch repairs in Bexhill-on-Sea
Older Bexhill-on-Sea houses often carry their window and door heads on brick arches built without any steel at all. When the centre bricks slip, the arch either needs reinforcing in place or rebuilding over a timber former.
Guide price from£450per arch inc VAT
- Postcodes
- TN39, TN40
- Population
- about 44,000
- Area
- East Sussex
- Pricing region
- South East
What should you know about the ground under Bexhill-on-Sea?
Bexhill-on-Sea is in East Sussex and takes in postcode districts TN39, TN40. About 44,000 people live there. Nearby places we cover include Hastings (5 miles), Hailsham (9 miles) and Eastbourne (10 miles).
Shrinkable clay is widespread in East Sussex. Ground movement here is more often linked to soils, drains and trees than to mining. What you mostly find across East Sussex: Regency and Victorian terraces on the coast, Wealden timber-framed houses, and inter-war bungalows and semis.
What happens when we carry out brick arch repairs in Bexhill-on-Sea?
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.
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.
Signs you may need brick arch repairs
- The centre bricks of an arch sitting lower than the rest
- A flat arch that has started to sag into a shallow curve
- Gaps opening between arch bricks at the top or bottom edge
How much will brick arch repairs cost in Bexhill-on-Sea?
For Bexhill-on-Sea we use South East 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. | £450 – £1,350 | per arch |
| Rebuilding an arch (one side) | £1,000 – £1,450 | per opening |
| Rebuilding an arch (both sides) | £2,000 – £2,900 | per opening |
Which repair method suits a home in Bexhill-on-Sea?
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
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 Bexhill-on-Sea: questions and answers
How much will brick arch repairs cost in Bexhill-on-Sea?
Guide prices for brick arch repairs in Bexhill-on-Sea start from about £450 per arch, including VAT, on South East rates. Your fixed written price follows photos or a survey and depends on the extent of the work and access.
Do you cover Bexhill-on-Sea?
We do. Bexhill-on-Sea and the surrounding area are covered, including nearby Hastings and Hailsham. A free initial assessment from your photos is the first step.
Is the ground in East Sussex prone to subsidence?
Inland East Sussex is Weald Clay and Wealden sands, while the South Downs and the coast around Brighton and Eastbourne are chalk. The Weald Clay areas are prone to shrink-swell movement near trees. Only an investigation can say why a particular building has moved.
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.
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.
Other structural repairs in Bexhill-on-Sea
- Boundary and garden wall repairs
- Bay window subsidence repairs
- Extension pulling away repairs
- Wall tie replacement
- Subsidence insurance claim repairs
Brick arch repairs near Bexhill-on-Sea
Once the brick and mortar match is agreed for your Bexhill-on-Sea arch, we put a fixed price in writing before any work is booked.