Brick arch repairs in Basingstoke

Postcodes: RG21, RG22, RG23, RG24
Population: about 110,000
Area: Hampshire
Pricing region: South East

Why does the ground in Hampshire matter for brick arch repairs?

Basingstoke (RG21, RG22, RG23, RG24) has around 110,000 residents and sits in Hampshire. Neighbouring towns we cover: Tadley (6 miles), Alton (9 miles) and Fleet (11 miles).

Much of Hampshire sits on clay that shrinks in dry summers and swells in wet winters. Ground movement here is more often linked to soils, drains and trees than to mining. Typical buildings in Hampshire: Victorian terraces in Portsmouth and Southampton, 1930s semis, and large post-war and new-build estates.

Methods for brick arch repairs

Rebuilding over a former

A timber former is cut to the arch profile and propped under the opening. The old arch is carefully taken down, bricks cleaned for reuse, and the arch rebuilt over the former with tight joints and a properly set keystone. The former stays until the mortar is strong enough to carry the load.

Best for: Badly dropped arches or ones with loose voussoirs

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

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.
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.

Symptoms that point to brick arch repairs

A vertical crack running up from the middle of the arch
The centre bricks of an arch sitting lower than the rest
Gaps opening between arch bricks at the top or bottom edge

Guide prices for brick arch repairs in Basingstoke

The ranges below reflect typical South East costs for brick arch repairs, including VAT. Scaffold, access and making good can push a job to the top of the range.

Guide prices inc VAT on South East rates. Items marked est. are our estimates.
Item	Guide price	Per
Stitching and reinforcing a sound archest.	£450 – £1,350	per arch
Rebuilding an arch (one side)	£1,000 – £1,450	per opening
Rebuilding an arch (both sides)	£2,000 – £2,900	per opening

Rules for brick arch repairs in England

Like-for-like repairs such as crack stitching and repointing do not usually need building control approval in England, but anything that changes or strengthens the structure, such as underpinning or rebuilding a wall, does. If the work touches a party wall, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 may apply.

Frequently asked questions

How much should I budget for brick arch repairs in Basingstoke?

Guide prices for brick arch repairs in Basingstoke start from about £450 per arch, including VAT, on South East rates. Your fixed written price follows photos or a survey and depends on the extent of the work and access.

Can you survey a property in Basingstoke?

Yes, Basingstoke is covered, along with postcode districts RG21, RG22, RG23, RG24. We also cover nearby Tadley and Alton.

Why do houses in Hampshire crack?

Central Hampshire is chalk, while the south around Portsmouth, Southampton and the New Forest fringe and the north-east around Farnborough sit on London Clay, Reading Beds and other clays and sands. The clay areas see seasonal movement near trees. Only an investigation can say why a particular building has moved.

Can you match the original bricks?

Usually, because most arches are rebuilt with their own cleaned bricks, which is the best match of all. Damaged bricks are replaced with reclaimed or new bricks chosen for size, colour and texture, and the mortar is matched to the surrounding joints.

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.

Related work in Basingstoke

Brick arch repairs near Basingstoke

If bricks in an arch at your Basingstoke property are loose, photograph them from a safe distance and send them over for advice.