Fleetwood · Lancashire
Brick arch repairs in Fleetwood
If you live in a period home in Fleetwood, the arches over your windows were probably laid in lime mortar. Rebuilding them in lime, with the original bricks cleaned and reused, keeps the wall breathing and the repair hard to spot.
Guide price from£385per arch inc VAT
- Postcodes
- FY7
- Population
- about 26,000
- Area
- Lancashire
- Pricing region
- North West
How do local ground conditions affect brick arch repairs in Fleetwood?
Postcode districts FY7 cover Fleetwood, a Lancashire town of about 26,000 people. Neighbouring towns we cover: Thornton-Cleveleys (4 miles), Poulton-le-Fylde (6 miles) and Blackpool (8 miles).
Clay soils are found in parts of Lancashire. Parts of Lancashire lie on a former coalfield, so a coal mining search is worth checking if movement has no obvious cause. What you mostly find across Lancashire: stone and brick mill terraces, seaside villas in Blackpool and Lytham, and inter-war and post-war semis.
Guide prices for brick arch repairs in Fleetwood
Prices in Fleetwood are worked out on North West rates. They include VAT and are a starting point: access, the extent of the damage and whether an engineer or building control is involved all move the figure.
| Item | Guide price | Per |
|---|---|---|
| Stitching and reinforcing a sound archest. | £385 – £1,150 | per arch |
| Rebuilding an arch (one side) | £865 – £1,250 | per opening |
| Rebuilding an arch (both sides) | £1,750 – £2,500 | per opening |
Methods for brick arch repairs
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
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
From first photo to finished repair
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.
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
- The centre bricks of an arch sitting lower than the rest
- A vertical crack running up from the middle of the arch
- Gaps opening between arch bricks at the top or bottom edge
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 Fleetwood?
Guide prices for brick arch repairs in Fleetwood start from about £385 per arch, including VAT, on North West rates. Your fixed written price follows photos or a survey and depends on the extent of the work and access.
Do you cover Fleetwood?
We do. Fleetwood and the surrounding area are covered, including nearby Thornton-Cleveleys and Poulton-le-Fylde. A free initial assessment from your photos is the first step.
Is the ground in Lancashire prone to subsidence?
Lancashire is mostly glacial till over sandstone and mudstone, with the Burnley and Accrington coalfield in the east and soft coastal and estuarine ground on the Fylde. Old mill and mine sites leave made ground in many towns. Only an investigation can say why a particular building has moved.
Can a dropped arch be repaired without rebuilding it?
Yes, if the drop is small and the brickwork is in good condition. Bars bonded into the joints above can take the load off the arch and hold it in place. If the bricks are loose or the arch has dropped badly, rebuilding is the more reliable repair.
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.
Other structural repairs in Fleetwood
- Crack stitching
- Resin injection ground stabilisation
- Roof structure repairs
- Floor joist repairs
- Subsidence repairs
Brick arch repairs near Fleetwood
Once the brick and mortar match is agreed for your Fleetwood arch, we put a fixed price in writing before any work is booked.