Ross-on-Wye · Herefordshire
Brick arch repairs in Ross-on-Wye
Rebuilding an arch in Ross-on-Wye is a precise job: a former cut to the exact curve, tight joints and a keystone set at the right height. Done well, the new arch looks as though it was always there.
Guide price from£400per arch inc VAT
- Postcodes
- HR9
- Population
- about 11,000
- Area
- Herefordshire
- Pricing region
- West Midlands
Why does the ground in Herefordshire matter for brick arch repairs?
With roughly 11,000 people, Ross-on-Wye spans postcode districts HR9 in Herefordshire. Nearby, we also cover Hereford (11 miles), Gloucester (15 miles) and Malvern (18 miles).
Clay soils are found in parts of Herefordshire. Ground movement here is more often linked to soils, drains and trees than to mining. Typical buildings in Herefordshire: Black-and-white timber-framed houses, stone farmhouses, Victorian terraces in Hereford and post-war estates.
Symptoms that point to brick arch repairs
- The centre bricks of an arch sitting lower than the rest
- A vertical crack running up from the middle of the arch
- A flat arch that has started to sag into a shallow curve
Guide prices for brick arch repairs in Ross-on-Wye
The ranges below reflect typical West Midlands costs for brick arch repairs, including VAT. Scaffold, access and making good can push a job to the top of the range.
| Item | Guide price | Per |
|---|---|---|
| Stitching and reinforcing a sound archest. | £400 – £1,200 | per arch |
| Rebuilding an arch (one side) | £900 – £1,300 | per opening |
| Rebuilding an arch (both sides) | £1,800 – £2,600 | per opening |
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
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.
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 Ross-on-Wye?
Guide prices for brick arch repairs in Ross-on-Wye start from about £400 per arch, including VAT, on West Midlands 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 Ross-on-Wye?
Yes, Ross-on-Wye is covered, along with postcode districts HR9. We also cover nearby Hereford and Gloucester.
Why do houses in Herefordshire crack?
Herefordshire is largely Old Red Sandstone marls that weather to clayey soils, with river alluvium along the Wye. Timber-framed and solid-walled older buildings are common. 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.
Do flat brick arches need a lintel?
Many flat soldier arches were built with a hidden steel bar or timber behind, because they have little true arch action. When repairing one, we check what is supporting it and, where needed, reinforce it with bars or add suitable support behind.
Related work in Ross-on-Wye
- Subsidence insurance claim repairs
- Boundary and garden wall repairs
- Chimney stack repairs
- Bay window subsidence repairs
- Roof structure repairs
Brick arch repairs near Ross-on-Wye
If bricks in an arch at your Ross-on-Wye property are loose, photograph them from a safe distance and send them over for advice.