Hammersmith and Fulham · Greater London
Brick arch repairs in Hammersmith and Fulham
Rebuilding an arch in Hammersmith and Fulham 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£500per arch inc VAT
- Postcodes
- SW13, SW14, W3, W4, W6
- Population
- about 180,000
- Area
- Greater London
- Pricing region
- London
What should you know about the ground under Hammersmith and Fulham?
Hammersmith and Fulham takes in postcode districts including SW13, SW14, W3, W4, W6, with about 180,000 residents. Nearby places we cover include Kensington and Chelsea (1 miles), Wandsworth (3 miles) and Westminster (4 miles).
Much of Greater London 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. Housing stock in Greater London: Victorian and Edwardian terraces with shallow footings, inter-war semis in the outer boroughs, and converted flats and mansion blocks.
Methods for brick arch repairs
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
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
From first photo to finished repair
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.
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.
Symptoms that point to brick arch repairs
- Mortar falling out of the arch joints after frosty weather
- A vertical crack running up from the middle of the arch
- The centre bricks of an arch sitting lower than the rest
Guide prices for brick arch repairs in Hammersmith and Fulham
These are guide prices for Hammersmith and Fulham, using London rates and including VAT. Your written quote follows photos or a survey, and is fixed once the repair is specified.
| Item | Guide price | Per |
|---|---|---|
| Stitching and reinforcing a sound archest. | £500 – £1,500 | per arch |
| Rebuilding an arch (one side) | £1,100 – £1,600 | per opening |
| Rebuilding an arch (both sides) | £2,250 – £3,250 | 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.
Frequently asked questions
How much should I budget for brick arch repairs in Hammersmith and Fulham?
Guide prices for brick arch repairs in Hammersmith and Fulham start from about £500 per arch, including VAT, on London 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 Hammersmith and Fulham?
Yes, Hammersmith and Fulham is covered, along with postcode districts SW13, SW14, W3, W4. We also cover nearby Kensington and Chelsea and Wandsworth.
Why do houses in Greater London crack?
Most of Greater London sits on London Clay, among the most shrinkage-prone ground in the UK, with river gravels along the Thames. Subsidence claims here are among the most frequent in the country, especially after dry summers and near street and garden 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.
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.
Related work in Hammersmith and Fulham
- Roof structure repairs
- Subsidence repairs
- Resin injection ground stabilisation
- Underpinning
- Concrete repairs
Brick arch repairs near Hammersmith and Fulham
If bricks in an arch at your Hammersmith and Fulham property are loose, photograph them from a safe distance and send them over for advice.