Cwmbran · Gwent
Brick arch repairs in Cwmbran
If you live in a period home in Cwmbran, 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
- NP44
- Population
- about 49,000
- Area
- Gwent
- Pricing region
- Wales
How do local ground conditions affect brick arch repairs in Cwmbran?
We cover Cwmbran and its postcode districts NP44, part of Gwent, with a population of roughly 49,000. Nearby, we also cover Pontypool (3 miles), Risca (5 miles) and Newport (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. Across Gwent, most homes are valley terraces on steep hillsides, Victorian houses in Newport and Abergavenny, and post-war estates.
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
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
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.
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.
Symptoms that point to brick arch repairs
- Mortar falling out of the arch joints after frosty weather
- A vertical crack running up from the middle of the arch
- Gaps opening between arch bricks at the top or bottom edge
Guide prices for brick arch repairs in Cwmbran
Prices in Cwmbran are worked out on Wales rates. They include VAT and are a starting point: access, the extent of the damage and whether an engineer or building control is involved all move the figure.
| 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 |
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 Cwmbran?
Guide prices for brick arch repairs in Cwmbran 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 Cwmbran?
Yes. We take enquiries from across Cwmbran, including NP44, and from nearby places such as Pontypool and Risca. 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.
Why has the middle of my brick arch dropped?
The centre of an arch usually drops because the bricks have lost their wedge, either because the wall at the sides has moved or the mortar has worn away. A rotting timber hidden behind the arch is another common cause. The keystone slipping is the visible result.
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 Cwmbran
- Crack stitching
- Subsidence insurance claim repairs
- Concrete repairs
- Subsidence repairs
- Resin injection ground stabilisation
Brick arch repairs near Cwmbran
Have several dropped arches along one Cwmbran elevation? We can price them together and suggest the order that makes sense.