Glenrothes · Fife
Brick arch repairs in Glenrothes
A dropped keystone over a front door is a familiar sight on older streets, in Glenrothes 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
- KY6, KY7
- Population
- about 38,000
- Area
- Fife
- Pricing region
- Scotland
What should you know about the ground under Glenrothes?
With roughly 38,000 people, Glenrothes spans postcode districts KY6, KY7 in Fife. We also take enquiries from nearby Kirkcaldy (5 miles), Methil (6 miles) and Cowdenbeath (9 miles).
Shrinkable clay is less common in Fife than in south-east England. Historic coal workings are recorded beneath parts of Fife, and a coal mining search is worth checking where movement is unexplained. What you mostly find across Fife: miners' rows, sandstone town houses, tenements and post-war estates.
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.
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
- A vertical crack running up from the middle of the arch
- Gaps opening between arch bricks at the top or bottom edge
- The centre bricks of an arch sitting lower than the rest
Brick arch repairs prices in Glenrothes
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 Glenrothes
What is the price of brick arch repairs in Glenrothes?
Guide prices for brick arch repairs in Glenrothes 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 Glenrothes?
Yes, Glenrothes is covered, along with postcode districts KY6, KY7. We also cover nearby Kirkcaldy and Methil.
Does the ground around Glenrothes cause cracking?
Much of central and west Fife lies on coalfields worked for centuries, with recorded shallow workings around Dunfermline, Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy, under a cover of glacial deposits. 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.
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.
More repairs we carry out in Glenrothes
- Retaining wall repairs
- Resin injection ground stabilisation
- Extension pulling away repairs
- Chimney stack repairs
- Mining subsidence repairs
Brick arch repairs near Glenrothes
If bricks in an arch at your Glenrothes property are loose, photograph them from a safe distance and send them over for advice.