Blackwood · Gwent
Brick arch repairs in Blackwood
If you live in a period home in Blackwood, 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
- NP12
- Population
- about 15,000
- Area
- Gwent
- Pricing region
- Wales
What is the ground like in Gwent?
Postcode districts NP12 cover Blackwood, a Gwent town of about 15,000 people. We also take enquiries from nearby Abercarn (3 miles), Nelson (3 miles) and Abertillery (5 miles).
Parts of Gwent have clay that can shrink near trees in dry spells. 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.
Guide prices for brick arch repairs in Blackwood
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 |
Methods for brick arch repairs
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
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
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.
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.
Symptoms that point to brick arch repairs
- A vertical crack running up from the middle of the arch
- A flat arch that has started to sag into a shallow curve
- Mortar falling out of the arch joints after frosty weather
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 Blackwood?
Guide prices for brick arch repairs in Blackwood 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 Blackwood?
We do. Blackwood and the surrounding area are covered, including nearby Abercarn and Nelson. 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.
Do flat brick arches need a lintel?
Many flat soldier arches were built with a hidden steel bar or timber behind, because they have little true arch action. When repairing one, we check what is supporting it and, where needed, reinforce it with bars or add suitable support behind.
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 Blackwood
- Wall tie replacement
- Resin injection ground stabilisation
- Mining subsidence repairs
- Boundary and garden wall repairs
- Chimney stack repairs
Brick arch repairs near Blackwood
If bricks in an arch at your Blackwood property are loose, photograph them from a safe distance and send them over for advice.