Rawtenstall · Lancashire
Brick arch repairs in Rawtenstall
Before repairing a brick arch at a Rawtenstall property, we check what sits behind it. A rotting timber lintel on the inner face is a frequent hidden cause, and fixing only the visible arch would leave the real problem in place.
Guide price from£385per arch inc VAT
- Postcodes
- BB4, OL13
- Population
- about 23,000
- Area
- Lancashire
- Pricing region
- North West
What should you know about the ground under Rawtenstall?
We cover Rawtenstall and its postcode districts BB4, OL13, part of Lancashire, with a population of roughly 23,000. Nearby places we cover include Ramsbottom (4 miles), Accrington (5 miles) and Bury (7 miles).
Parts of Lancashire have clay that can shrink near trees in dry spells. Parts of Lancashire lie on a former coalfield, so a coal mining search is worth checking if movement has no obvious cause. Housing stock in Lancashire: Stone and brick mill terraces, seaside villas in Blackpool and Lytham, and inter-war and post-war semis.
What happens when we carry out brick arch repairs in Rawtenstall?
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.
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.
Signs you may need brick arch repairs
- Mortar falling out of the arch joints after frosty weather
- Cracks stepping out from the arch ends into the wall
- The centre bricks of an arch sitting lower than the rest
How much will brick arch repairs cost in Rawtenstall?
For Rawtenstall we use North West rates. Treat the table as a budget guide, inc VAT; the price you pay is the one on your written quote.
| 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 |
Which repair method suits a home in Rawtenstall?
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
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
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.
Brick arch repairs in Rawtenstall: questions and answers
What is the price of brick arch repairs in Rawtenstall?
Guide prices for brick arch repairs in Rawtenstall 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 carry out brick arch repairs in Rawtenstall?
Yes, Rawtenstall is covered, along with postcode districts BB4, OL13. We also cover nearby Ramsbottom and Accrington.
Does the ground around Rawtenstall cause cracking?
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.
What is a former in arch building?
A former, sometimes called a centre, is a temporary timber frame cut to the exact shape of the arch. It supports the bricks while the arch is laid and the mortar cures, and is removed once the arch can carry itself.
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.
More repairs we carry out in Rawtenstall
- Retaining wall repairs
- Mining subsidence repairs
- Structural crack repairs
- Floor joist repairs
- Wall tie replacement
Brick arch repairs near Rawtenstall
If bricks in an arch at your Rawtenstall property are loose, photograph them from a safe distance and send them over for advice.