Brick arch repairs in Ryde

Postcodes: PO33, PO34
Population: about 24,000
Area: Isle of Wight
Pricing region: South East

What should you know about the ground under Ryde?

Ryde is in Isle of Wight and takes in postcode districts PO33, PO34. About 24,000 people live there. Nearby places we cover include Sandown (5 miles), Newport (6 miles) and Cowes (6 miles).

Shrinkable clay is widespread in Isle of Wight. Ground movement here is more often linked to soils, drains and trees than to mining. Housing stock in Isle of Wight: Victorian seaside villas, terraces in Ryde and Newport, and post-war bungalows.

Repair options we may recommend

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

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

What to expect when we carry out brick arch repairs

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.
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.

Is it time for brick arch repairs? Common signs

Cracks stepping out from the arch ends into the wall
A vertical crack running up from the middle of the arch
Mortar falling out of the arch joints after frosty weather

What should you budget for brick arch repairs in Ryde?

For Ryde 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

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 Ryde?

Guide prices for brick arch repairs in Ryde 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 Ryde?

Survey visits to Ryde are by arrangement because of travel and access. We can still give a free initial view from photos, and we tell you any travel cost before a visit is booked.

Why do houses in Isle of Wight crack?

The island has clays, sands and chalk, and the south coast around Ventnor sits on one of the largest urban landslide complexes in Europe. Ground movement there is a landslip question as much as a clay one. Only an investigation can say why a particular building has moved.

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.

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 Ryde

Brick arch repairs near Ryde

Once the brick and mortar match is agreed for your Ryde arch, we put a fixed price in writing before any work is booked.