Monmouth · Gwent
Brick arch repairs in Monmouth
A dropped keystone over a front door is a familiar sight on older streets, in Monmouth 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£370per arch inc VAT
- Postcodes
- NP25
- Population
- about 10,000
- Area
- Gwent
- Pricing region
- Wales
What should you know about the ground under Monmouth?
Postcode districts NP25 cover Monmouth, a Gwent town of about 10,000 people. Nearby, we also cover Chepstow (12 miles), Abergavenny (13 miles) and Pontypool (16 miles).
Gwent has a mix of ground, with clay in some places and firmer rock in others. 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
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.
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.
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.
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
- A vertical crack running up from the middle of the arch
Guide prices for brick arch repairs in Monmouth
Guide prices below are for homes in Monmouth, on Wales rates and including VAT. A survey or good photos let us turn them into a fixed written price.
| 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
What is the price of brick arch repairs in Monmouth?
Guide prices for brick arch repairs in Monmouth 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 carry out brick arch repairs in Monmouth?
Yes. We take enquiries from across Monmouth, including NP25, and from nearby places such as Chepstow and Abergavenny. Send photos for a free initial view and we will tell you what happens next.
Does the ground around Monmouth cause cracking?
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.
Can a dropped arch be repaired without rebuilding it?
Yes, if the drop is small and the brickwork is in good condition. Bars bonded into the joints above can take the load off the arch and hold it in place. If the bricks are loose or the arch has dropped badly, rebuilding is the more reliable repair.
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.
More repairs we carry out in Monmouth
- Boundary and garden wall repairs
- Floor joist repairs
- Structural surveys and crack monitoring
- Extension pulling away repairs
- Wall tie replacement
Brick arch repairs near Monmouth
Request a written, no-obligation price for arch repairs in Monmouth; every arch is itemised, along with any work needed on the inside face.