Abergavenny · Gwent
Brick arch repairs in Abergavenny
If you live in a period home in Abergavenny, the arches over your windows were probably laid in lime mortar. Rebuilding them in lime, with the original bricks cleaned and reused, keeps the wall breathing and the repair hard to spot.
Guide price from£370per arch inc VAT
- Postcodes
- NP7
- Population
- about 14,000
- Area
- Gwent
- Pricing region
- Wales
How do local ground conditions affect brick arch repairs in Abergavenny?
Postcode districts NP7 cover Abergavenny, a Gwent town of about 14,000 people. Nearby places we cover include Abertillery (8 miles), Pontypool (8 miles) and Ebbw Vale (9 miles).
Clay soils are found in parts of Gwent. Historic coal workings are recorded beneath parts of Gwent, and a coal mining search is worth checking where movement is unexplained. Across Gwent, most homes are valley terraces on steep hillsides, Victorian houses in Newport and Abergavenny, and post-war estates.
Symptoms that point to 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
- The centre bricks of an arch sitting lower than the rest
Guide prices for brick arch repairs in Abergavenny
These are guide prices for Abergavenny, using Wales 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. | £370 – £1,100 | per arch |
| Rebuilding an arch (one side) | £830 – £1,200 | per opening |
| Rebuilding an arch (both sides) | £1,650 – £2,400 | per opening |
Methods for brick arch repairs
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
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
From first photo to finished repair
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.
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.
Rules for brick arch repairs in Wales
In Wales, small like-for-like repairs do not usually need approval, but work that alters or strengthens the structure needs building control under the Welsh Building Regulations, and the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 can apply to shared walls.
Frequently asked questions
How much will brick arch repairs cost in Abergavenny?
Guide prices for brick arch repairs in Abergavenny start from about £370 per arch, including VAT, on Wales rates. Your fixed written price follows photos or a survey and depends on the extent of the work and access.
Do you cover Abergavenny?
We do. Abergavenny and the surrounding area are covered, including nearby Abertillery and Pontypool. A free initial assessment from your photos is the first step.
Is the ground in Gwent prone to subsidence?
The valleys of Blaenau Gwent, Torfaen and Islwyn lie on the South Wales coalfield with extensive historic workings and spoil tips, while Newport and Monmouthshire have Mercia Mudstone, alluvium and Old Red Sandstone. Only an investigation can say why a particular building has moved.
Should a brick arch be repaired with lime mortar?
On older houses built with soft bricks and lime, yes, in most cases. Lime mortar lets the wall breathe and is weaker than the brick, so any movement or frost damage happens in the joints rather than the bricks. Modern hard brickwork can take a cement-based mortar.
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.
Other structural repairs in Abergavenny
- Subsidence repairs
- Bowing wall repairs
- Crack stitching
- Resin injection ground stabilisation
- Structural crack repairs
Brick arch repairs near Abergavenny
Once the brick and mortar match is agreed for your Abergavenny arch, we put a fixed price in writing before any work is booked.