Crowborough · East Sussex
Brick arch repairs in Crowborough
Older Crowborough 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
- TN6
- Population
- about 22,000
- Area
- East Sussex
- Pricing region
- South East
How do local ground conditions affect brick arch repairs in Crowborough?
Crowborough is in East Sussex and takes in postcode districts TN6. About 22,000 people live there. Nearby places we cover include Tunbridge Wells (7 miles), Uckfield (7 miles) and East Grinstead (9 miles).
East Sussex is one of the parts of the UK where clay soils are most likely to move with the seasons. Ground movement here is more often linked to soils, drains and trees than to mining. Typical buildings in 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 Crowborough?
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.
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.
Signs you may need brick arch repairs
- Gaps opening between arch bricks at the top or bottom edge
- A vertical crack running up from the middle of the arch
- Cracks stepping out from the arch ends into the wall
How much will brick arch repairs cost in Crowborough?
These are guide prices for Crowborough, using South 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. | £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 Crowborough?
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
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 Crowborough: questions and answers
How much will brick arch repairs cost in Crowborough?
Guide prices for brick arch repairs in Crowborough 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 Crowborough?
Yes. We take enquiries from across Crowborough, including TN6, and from nearby places such as Tunbridge Wells and Uckfield. Send photos for a free initial view and we will tell you what happens next.
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 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.
Other structural repairs in Crowborough
- Retaining wall repairs
- Crack stitching
- Wall tie replacement
- Extension pulling away repairs
- Lintel replacement
Brick arch repairs near Crowborough
Request a written, no-obligation price for arch repairs in Crowborough; every arch is itemised, along with any work needed on the inside face.