Walton-on-the-Naze · Essex
Brick arch repairs in Walton-on-the-Naze
Rebuilding an arch in Walton-on-the-Naze is a precise job: a former cut to the exact curve, tight joints and a keystone set at the right height. Done well, the new arch looks as though it was always there.
Guide price from£420per arch inc VAT
- Postcodes
- CO13, CO14
- Population
- about 17,000
- Area
- Essex
- Pricing region
- East of England
Is Essex prone to ground movement?
Walton-on-the-Naze is in Essex and takes in postcode districts CO13, CO14. About 17,000 people live there. Nearby, we also cover Clacton-on-Sea (6 miles), Harwich (7 miles) and Felixstowe (9 miles).
Much of Essex 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. Across Essex, most homes are Victorian terraces, 1930s semis and bungalows, and large post-war new-town estates in Basildon and Harlow.
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.
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
- Gaps opening between arch bricks at the top or bottom edge
Brick arch repairs prices in Walton-on-the-Naze
For Walton-on-the-Naze we use East of England rates. Treat the table as a budget guide, inc VAT; the price you pay is the one on your written quote.
| Item | Guide price | Per |
|---|---|---|
| Stitching and reinforcing a sound archest. | £420 – £1,250 | per arch |
| Rebuilding an arch (one side) | £945 – £1,350 | per opening |
| Rebuilding an arch (both sides) | £1,900 – £2,750 | per opening |
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
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 Walton-on-the-Naze
How much should I budget for brick arch repairs in Walton-on-the-Naze?
Guide prices for brick arch repairs in Walton-on-the-Naze start from about £420 per arch, including VAT, on East of England 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 Walton-on-the-Naze?
Yes. We take enquiries from across Walton-on-the-Naze, including CO13, CO14, and from nearby places such as Clacton-on-Sea and Harwich. Send photos for a free initial view and we will tell you what happens next.
Why do houses in Essex crack?
London Clay covers much of south and central Essex and boulder clay much of the north, making it one of the counties most affected by clay shrinkage in dry summers. Street and garden trees close to houses add to the risk. 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.
Related work in Walton-on-the-Naze
- Floor joist repairs
- Underpinning
- Bay window subsidence repairs
- Concrete repairs
- Subsidence insurance claim repairs
Brick arch repairs near Walton-on-the-Naze
Send a straight-on photo of the dropped or cracked arch at your Walton-on-the-Naze home, and we will offer a free view on whether it needs reinforcing or rebuilding.