Brick arch repairs in Waterlooville

Postcodes: PO7, PO8, PO9
Population: about 64,000
Area: Hampshire
Pricing region: South East

Is Hampshire prone to ground movement?

Postcode districts PO7, PO8, PO9 cover Waterlooville, a Hampshire town of about 64,000 people. Neighbouring towns we cover: Havant (3 miles), Emsworth (5 miles) and Portsmouth (6 miles).

Shrinkable clay is widespread in Hampshire. 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.

From first photo to finished repair

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.
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

Gaps opening between arch bricks at the top or bottom edge
A flat arch that has started to sag into a shallow curve
Cracks stepping out from the arch ends into the wall

Guide prices for brick arch repairs in Waterlooville

For Waterlooville we use South East rates. Treat the table as a budget guide, inc VAT; the price you pay is the one on your written quote.

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

Methods for brick arch repairs

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

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

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 will brick arch repairs cost in Waterlooville?

Guide prices for brick arch repairs in Waterlooville 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.

Do you cover Waterlooville?

We do. Waterlooville and the surrounding area are covered, including nearby Havant and Emsworth. A free initial assessment from your photos is the first step.

Is the ground in Hampshire prone to subsidence?

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.

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.

Should a brick arch be repaired with lime mortar?

On older houses built with soft bricks and lime, yes, in most cases. Lime mortar lets the wall breathe and is weaker than the brick, so any movement or frost damage happens in the joints rather than the bricks. Modern hard brickwork can take a cement-based mortar.

Other structural repairs in Waterlooville

Brick arch repairs near Waterlooville

Request a written, no-obligation price for arch repairs in Waterlooville; every arch is itemised, along with any work needed on the inside face.