Llandudno · Gwynedd
Brick arch repairs in Llandudno
Older Llandudno 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
- LL30
- Population
- about 15,000
- Area
- Gwynedd
- Pricing region
- Wales
What is the ground like in Gwynedd?
Llandudno (LL30) has around 15,000 residents and sits in Gwynedd. Nearby places we cover include Colwyn Bay (5 miles), Abergele (11 miles) and Rhyl (14 miles).
Clay shrinkage is less of a concern in Gwynedd, so other causes such as drains, poor footings or older walls are checked first. Old metal-mine shafts and workings are recorded in places, so mining searches are routine for some properties. Typical buildings in Gwynedd: Slate and stone terraces, chapels and cottages, Victorian seaside houses and post-war estates.
Signs you may need brick arch repairs
- A vertical crack running up from the middle of the arch
- Gaps opening between arch bricks at the top or bottom edge
- Cracks stepping out from the arch ends into the wall
How much will brick arch repairs cost in Llandudno?
For Llandudno we use Wales rates. Treat the table as a budget guide, inc VAT; the price you pay is the one on your written quote.
| 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 |
Which repair method suits a home in Llandudno?
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
What happens when we carry out brick arch repairs in Llandudno?
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.
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.
Brick arch repairs in Llandudno: questions and answers
How much will brick arch repairs cost in Llandudno?
Guide prices for brick arch repairs in Llandudno 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 Llandudno?
Yes. We take enquiries from across Llandudno, including LL30, and from nearby places such as Colwyn Bay and Abergele. Send photos for a free initial view and we will tell you what happens next.
Is the ground in Gwynedd prone to subsidence?
Gwynedd and Anglesey are mostly hard rock with glacial deposits, so clay shrinkage is uncommon. Historic slate quarrying and metal mining have left tips and workings in places. Only an investigation can say why a particular building has moved.
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.
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.
Other structural repairs in Llandudno
- Structural surveys and crack monitoring
- Bowing wall repairs
- Underpinning
- Floor joist repairs
- Extension pulling away repairs
Brick arch repairs near Llandudno
Once the brick and mortar match is agreed for your Llandudno arch, we put a fixed price in writing before any work is booked.