Brick arch repairs in Eastbourne

Postcodes: BN20, BN21, BN23
Population: about 100,000
Area: East Sussex
Pricing region: South East

Why does the ground in East Sussex matter for brick arch repairs?

Eastbourne is in East Sussex and takes in postcode districts BN20, BN21, BN23. About 100,000 people live there. Nearby places we cover include Hailsham (7 miles), Seaford (8 miles) and Bexhill-on-Sea (10 miles).

Much of East Sussex sits on clay that shrinks in dry summers and swells in wet winters. 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 to look for before calling about brick arch repairs

A vertical crack running up from the middle of the arch
Cracks stepping out from the arch ends into the wall
The centre bricks of an arch sitting lower than the rest

Brick arch repairs prices in Eastbourne

These are guide prices for Eastbourne, using South East rates and including VAT. Your written quote follows photos or a survey, and is fixed once the repair is specified.

Guide prices inc VAT on South East rates. Items marked est. are our estimates.
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

How we usually approach brick arch repairs

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

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

What happens during brick arch repairs, step by step?

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.
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.

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.

Questions about brick arch repairs in Eastbourne

How much will brick arch repairs cost in Eastbourne?

Guide prices for brick arch repairs in Eastbourne 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 Eastbourne?

We do. Eastbourne and the surrounding area are covered, including nearby Hailsham and Seaford. 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.

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.

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 Eastbourne

Brick arch repairs near Eastbourne

Request a written, no-obligation price for arch repairs in Eastbourne; every arch is itemised, along with any work needed on the inside face.