Lanarkshire · Scotland
Brick arch repairs in Lanarkshire
Across Lanarkshire, requests for brick arch repairs usually begin with a crack someone has noticed getting wider. Clay shrinkage is less of a concern in Lanarkshire, so other causes such as drains, poor footings or older walls are checked first. A repair only lasts if the reason for the movement has stopped.
Guide price from£380per arch inc VAT
- Area
- Lanarkshire
- Pricing region
- Scotland
- Ground
- Mostly firmer ground
- Towns listed
- 12
How do local ground conditions affect brick arch repairs in Lanarkshire?
Lanarkshire lies on the Central Coalfield, mined intensively in the past around Hamilton, Motherwell, Airdrie and Coatbridge, so recorded workings are common beneath towns.
Historic coal workings are recorded beneath parts of Lanarkshire, and a coal mining search is worth checking where movement is unexplained. Housing stock in Lanarkshire: Miners' rows, sandstone tenements, inter-war council houses and new-town estates in East Kilbride and Cumbernauld.
Is it time for brick arch repairs? Common signs
- A flat arch that has started to sag into a shallow curve
- Gaps opening between arch bricks at the top or bottom edge
- Mortar falling out of the arch joints after frosty weather
- A vertical crack running up from the middle of the arch
What should you budget for brick arch repairs in Lanarkshire?
The ranges below reflect typical Scotland 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. | £380 – £1,150 | per arch |
| Rebuilding an arch (one side) | £855 – £1,250 | per opening |
| Rebuilding an arch (both sides) | £1,700 – £2,450 | per opening |
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
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
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.
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.
Do you need approval for brick arch repairs in Scotland?
In Scotland, small repairs often do not need a building warrant, but structural alterations and strengthening generally do. Check with the council’s building standards service if unsure; there is no Party Wall Act in Scotland.
Find brick arch repairs in your Lanarkshire town
- East Kilbride
- Hamilton
- Cumbernauld
- Coatbridge
- Motherwell
- Rutherglen
- Cambuslang
- Wishaw
- Bellshill
- Blantyre
- Larkhall
- Carluke
Your brick arch repairs questions
Why do houses in Lanarkshire crack?
Lanarkshire lies on the Central Coalfield, mined intensively in the past around Hamilton, Motherwell, Airdrie and Coatbridge, so recorded workings are common beneath towns. Historic coal workings are recorded beneath parts of Lanarkshire, and a coal mining search is worth checking where movement is unexplained. Only an investigation on site can say why a particular building has moved.
How much will brick arch repairs cost in Lanarkshire?
On Scotland rates, brick arch repairs starts from about £380 per arch, including VAT. The written price depends on the extent of the damage, access and whether an engineer or building control is needed.
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.
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.