Linlithgow · Edinburgh and the Lothians
Brick arch repairs in Linlithgow
A dropped keystone over a front door is a familiar sight on older streets, in Linlithgow and beyond, and it rarely fixes itself. We look at whether the arch bricks are sound and whether the wall either side has moved, then recommend the lighter repair where it will work.
Guide price from£380per arch inc VAT
- Postcodes
- EH49
- Population
- about 13,000
- Area
- Edinburgh and the Lothians
- Pricing region
- Scotland
Is Edinburgh and the Lothians prone to ground movement?
Linlithgow (EH49) has around 13,000 residents and sits in Edinburgh and the Lothians. Nearby places we cover include Bo'ness (3 miles), Grangemouth (5 miles) and Bathgate (5 miles).
Most of Edinburgh and the Lothians is on firmer ground than the clay belts of the south-east. Parts of Edinburgh and the Lothians lie on a former coalfield, so a coal mining search is worth checking if movement has no obvious cause. Housing stock in Edinburgh and the Lothians: Sandstone tenements and Georgian terraces, miners' rows, bungalows and post-war estates.
How we usually approach brick arch repairs
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 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?
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.
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.
What to look for before calling about brick arch repairs
- A vertical crack running up from the middle of the arch
- Gaps opening between arch bricks at the top or bottom edge
- Cracks stepping out from the arch ends into the wall
Brick arch repairs prices in Linlithgow
The ranges below reflect typical Scotland 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. | £380 – £1,150 | per arch |
| Rebuilding an arch (one side) | £855 – £1,250 | per opening |
| Rebuilding an arch (both sides) | £1,700 – £2,450 | per opening |
Rules for brick arch repairs in Scotland
In Scotland, small repairs often do not need a building warrant, but structural alterations and strengthening generally do. Check with the council’s building standards service if unsure; there is no Party Wall Act in Scotland.
Questions about brick arch repairs in Linlithgow
What is the price of brick arch repairs in Linlithgow?
Guide prices for brick arch repairs in Linlithgow start from about £380 per arch, including VAT, on Scotland 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 Linlithgow?
Yes, Linlithgow is covered, along with postcode districts EH49. We also cover nearby Bo'ness and Grangemouth.
Does the ground around Linlithgow cause cracking?
Edinburgh is volcanic and sedimentary rock with glacial till, while the Midlothian and East Lothian coalfields and oil-shale workings in West Lothian have left recorded mine workings and bings. 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.
Why has the middle of my brick arch dropped?
The centre of an arch usually drops because the bricks have lost their wedge, either because the wall at the sides has moved or the mortar has worn away. A rotting timber hidden behind the arch is another common cause. The keystone slipping is the visible result.
More repairs we carry out in Linlithgow
- Resin injection ground stabilisation
- Underpinning
- Bay window subsidence repairs
- Gable end wall repairs
- Chimney stack repairs
Brick arch repairs near Linlithgow
Request a written, no-obligation price for arch repairs in Linlithgow; every arch is itemised, along with any work needed on the inside face.