Altrincham · Greater Manchester
Brick arch repairs in Altrincham
A dropped keystone over a front door is a familiar sight on older streets, in Altrincham 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£385per arch inc VAT
- Postcodes
- M33, WA14, WA15
- Population
- about 50,000
- Area
- Greater Manchester
- Pricing region
- North West
What should you know about the ground under Altrincham?
Altrincham, Greater Manchester: about 50,000 residents across postcode districts M33, WA14, WA15. Nearby places we cover include Sale (3 miles), Irlam (5 miles) and Wilmslow (6 miles).
Parts of Greater Manchester have clay that can shrink near trees in dry spells. Parts of Greater Manchester lie on a former coalfield, so a coal mining search is worth checking if movement has no obvious cause. What you mostly find across Greater Manchester: red-brick terraces, mill-town stone terraces, inter-war semis and post-war estates.
What to look for before calling about brick arch repairs
- A flat arch that has started to sag into a shallow curve
- Mortar falling out of the arch joints after frosty weather
- Cracks stepping out from the arch ends into the wall
Brick arch repairs prices in Altrincham
These are guide prices for Altrincham, using North West 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. | £385 – £1,150 | per arch |
| Rebuilding an arch (one side) | £865 – £1,250 | per opening |
| Rebuilding an arch (both sides) | £1,750 – £2,500 | 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
Lime mortar repairs
On older houses built in soft brick and lime, the arch is rebuilt or repointed in a lime mortar matched to the original. Lime lets moisture escape and moves slightly with the wall, so it protects the bricks rather than forcing damage into them, as hard cement mortar can.
Best for: Pre-1919 houses and soft historic brick
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.
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.
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 Altrincham
What is the price of brick arch repairs in Altrincham?
Guide prices for brick arch repairs in Altrincham start from about £385 per arch, including VAT, on North West 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 Altrincham?
Yes. We take enquiries from across Altrincham, including M33, WA14, WA15, and from nearby places such as Sale and Irlam. Send photos for a free initial view and we will tell you what happens next.
Does the ground around Altrincham cause cracking?
Greater Manchester is mostly glacial till over sandstone and mudstone, with the Lancashire coalfield beneath much of Wigan, Bolton, Salford and parts of the east. Historic mine workings, made ground and old mill sites are common. 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.
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.
More repairs we carry out in Altrincham
- Crack stitching
- Wall tie replacement
- Lintel replacement
- Mining subsidence repairs
- Subsidence insurance claim repairs
Brick arch repairs near Altrincham
If bricks in an arch at your Altrincham property are loose, photograph them from a safe distance and send them over for advice.