Seaford · East Sussex
Brick arch repairs in Seaford
Flat soldier arches on Seaford houses tend to sag once a hidden bar rusts or an old window frame is replaced. Reinforcing them with stainless bars in the joints above is often enough, without taking the arch down.
Guide price from£450per arch inc VAT
- Postcodes
- BN25
- Population
- about 23,000
- Area
- East Sussex
- Pricing region
- South East
How do local ground conditions affect brick arch repairs in Seaford?
Postcode districts BN25 cover Seaford, a East Sussex town of about 23,000 people. We also take enquiries from nearby Peacehaven (5 miles), Eastbourne (8 miles) and Lewes (8 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.
Which repair method suits a home in Seaford?
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 Seaford?
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
- 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
How much will brick arch repairs cost in Seaford?
The ranges below reflect typical South East 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. | £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 |
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 Seaford: questions and answers
How much should I budget for brick arch repairs in Seaford?
Guide prices for brick arch repairs in Seaford 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.
Can you survey a property in Seaford?
Yes. We take enquiries from across Seaford, including BN25, and from nearby places such as Peacehaven and Eastbourne. Send photos for a free initial view and we will tell you what happens next.
Why do houses in East Sussex crack?
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.
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.
Related work in Seaford
- Resin injection ground stabilisation
- Floor joist repairs
- Chimney stack repairs
- Structural crack repairs
- Retaining wall repairs
Brick arch repairs near Seaford
Request a written, no-obligation price for arch repairs in Seaford; every arch is itemised, along with any work needed on the inside face.