Brick arch repairs in Kingston upon Thames

Postcodes: KT1, KT2, KT3, KT4, KT5
Population: about 170,000
Area: Greater London
Pricing region: London

How do local ground conditions affect brick arch repairs in Kingston upon Thames?

Kingston upon Thames is one of the 32 London boroughs, with around 170,000 residents in districts such as KT1, KT2, KT3, KT4, KT5. Nearby places we cover include East Molesey (3 miles), Ewell (3 miles) and Esher (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.

What to expect when we carry out brick arch repairs

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.
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.

Is it time for brick arch repairs? Common signs

Cracks stepping out from the arch ends into the wall
The centre bricks of an arch sitting lower than the rest
A vertical crack running up from the middle of the arch

What should you budget for brick arch repairs in Kingston upon Thames?

The ranges below reflect typical London costs for brick arch repairs, including VAT. Scaffold, access and making good can push a job to the top of the range.

Guide prices inc VAT on London rates. Items marked est. are our estimates.
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

Repair options we may recommend

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

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.

Your brick arch repairs questions

How much will brick arch repairs cost in Kingston upon Thames?

Guide prices for brick arch repairs in Kingston upon Thames 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.

Do you cover Kingston upon Thames?

Yes, Kingston upon Thames is covered, along with postcode districts KT1, KT2, KT3, KT4. We also cover nearby East Molesey and Ewell.

Is the ground in Greater London prone to subsidence?

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.

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.

Can a dropped arch be repaired without rebuilding it?

Yes, if the drop is small and the brickwork is in good condition. Bars bonded into the joints above can take the load off the arch and hold it in place. If the bricks are loose or the arch has dropped badly, rebuilding is the more reliable repair.

Other structural repairs in Kingston upon Thames

Brick arch repairs near Kingston upon Thames

Once the brick and mortar match is agreed for your Kingston upon Thames arch, we put a fixed price in writing before any work is booked.