Mayfield · Edinburgh and the Lothians
Brick arch repairs in Mayfield
If you live in a period home in Mayfield, the arches over your windows were probably laid in lime mortar. Rebuilding them in lime, with the original bricks cleaned and reused, keeps the wall breathing and the repair hard to spot.
Guide price from£380per arch inc VAT
- Postcodes
- EH19, EH22, EH23
- Population
- about 14,000
- Area
- Edinburgh and the Lothians
- Pricing region
- Scotland
What should you know about the ground under Mayfield?
Mayfield is in Edinburgh and the Lothians and takes in postcode districts EH19, EH22, EH23. About 14,000 people live there. Neighbouring towns we cover: Bonnyrigg (3 miles), Musselburgh (5 miles) and Tranent (6 miles).
Clay shrinkage is less of a concern in Edinburgh and the Lothians, so other causes such as drains, poor footings or older walls are checked first. 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.
Brick arch repairs prices in Mayfield
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 |
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
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
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.
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.
What to look for before calling about brick arch repairs
- Mortar falling out of the arch joints after frosty weather
- The centre bricks of an arch sitting lower than the rest
- Cracks stepping out from the arch ends into the wall
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 Mayfield
How much will brick arch repairs cost in Mayfield?
Guide prices for brick arch repairs in Mayfield 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 cover Mayfield?
We do. Mayfield and the surrounding area are covered, including nearby Bonnyrigg and Musselburgh. A free initial assessment from your photos is the first step.
Is the ground in Edinburgh and the Lothians prone to subsidence?
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.
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.
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 Mayfield
Brick arch repairs near Mayfield
Have several dropped arches along one Mayfield elevation? We can price them together and suggest the order that makes sense.