Brick arch repairs in Hertford

Postcodes: SG13, SG14
Population: about 26,000
Area: Hertfordshire
Pricing region: East of England

Is Hertfordshire prone to ground movement?

We cover Hertford and its postcode districts SG13, SG14, part of Hertfordshire, with a population of roughly 26,000. Nearby, we also cover Ware (2 miles), Hoddesdon (4 miles) and Welwyn Garden City (6 miles).

Shrinkable clay is widespread in Hertfordshire. Ground movement here is more often linked to soils, drains and trees than to mining. Housing stock in Hertfordshire: Garden-city houses in Letchworth and Welwyn, 1930s semis, Victorian terraces and post-war new-town estates.

What to expect when we carry out brick arch repairs

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.

Is it time for brick arch repairs? Common signs

The centre bricks of an arch sitting lower than the rest
Gaps opening between arch bricks at the top or bottom edge
Cracks stepping out from the arch ends into the wall

What should you budget for brick arch repairs in Hertford?

For Hertford we use East of England 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 East of England rates. Items marked est. are our estimates.
Item	Guide price	Per
Stitching and reinforcing a sound archest.	£420 – £1,250	per arch
Rebuilding an arch (one side)	£945 – £1,350	per opening
Rebuilding an arch (both sides)	£1,900 – £2,750	per opening

Repair options we may recommend

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

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

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.

Your brick arch repairs questions

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

Guide prices for brick arch repairs in Hertford start from about £420 per arch, including VAT, on East of England 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 Hertford?

Yes. We take enquiries from across Hertford, including SG13, SG14, and from nearby places such as Ware and Hoddesdon. Send photos for a free initial view and we will tell you what happens next.

Why do houses in Hertfordshire crack?

South Hertfordshire around Watford, Borehamwood and Potters Bar is London Clay, while the north and west are chalk with clay-with-flints and the east has boulder clay. The clay areas are prone to seasonal subsidence near trees. Only an investigation can say why a particular building has moved.

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.

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.

Related work in Hertford

Brick arch repairs near Hertford

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