Abertillery · Gwent
Brick arch repairs in Abertillery
Older Abertillery houses often carry their window and door heads on brick arches built without any steel at all. When the centre bricks slip, the arch either needs reinforcing in place or rebuilding over a timber former.
Guide price from£370per arch inc VAT
- Postcodes
- NP13
- Population
- about 11,000
- Area
- Gwent
- Pricing region
- Wales
How do local ground conditions affect brick arch repairs in Abertillery?
Abertillery, Gwent: about 11,000 residents across postcode districts NP13. If you are just outside Abertillery, we also cover Pontypool (4 miles), Ebbw Vale (5 miles) and Blackwood (5 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. What you mostly find across Gwent: valley terraces on steep hillsides, Victorian houses in Newport and Abergavenny, and post-war estates.
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.
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.
Is it time for brick arch repairs? Common signs
- A flat arch that has started to sag into a shallow curve
- Mortar falling out of the arch joints after frosty weather
- Gaps opening between arch bricks at the top or bottom edge
What should you budget for brick arch repairs in Abertillery?
The ranges below reflect typical Wales 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. | £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 |
Repair options we may recommend
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
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.
Your brick arch repairs questions
How much will brick arch repairs cost in Abertillery?
Guide prices for brick arch repairs in Abertillery 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 Abertillery?
Yes. We take enquiries from across Abertillery, including NP13, and from nearby places such as Pontypool and Ebbw Vale. Send photos for a free initial view and we will tell you what happens next.
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.
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.
Other structural repairs in Abertillery
- Retaining wall repairs
- Chimney stack repairs
- Bowing wall repairs
- Gable end wall repairs
- Lintel replacement
Brick arch repairs near Abertillery
Once the brick and mortar match is agreed for your Abertillery arch, we put a fixed price in writing before any work is booked.