Loughborough · Leicestershire
Brick arch repairs in Loughborough
Rebuilding an arch in Loughborough is a precise job: a former cut to the exact curve, tight joints and a keystone set at the right height. Done well, the new arch looks as though it was always there.
Guide price from£390per arch inc VAT
- Postcodes
- LE11, LE12
- Population
- about 65,000
- Area
- Leicestershire
- Pricing region
- East Midlands
How do local ground conditions affect brick arch repairs in Loughborough?
With roughly 65,000 people, Loughborough spans postcode districts LE11, LE12 in Leicestershire. Nearby, we also cover Mountsorrel (4 miles), Coalville (8 miles) and Leicester (9 miles).
Parts of Leicestershire have clay that can shrink near trees in dry spells. Parts of Leicestershire lie on a former coalfield, so a coal mining search is worth checking if movement has no obvious cause. What you mostly find across Leicestershire: Victorian terraces in Leicester and Loughborough, inter-war semis and large post-war estates.
What happens during brick arch repairs, step by step?
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.
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.
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.
What to look for before calling about brick arch repairs
- A vertical crack running up from the middle of the arch
- A flat arch that has started to sag into a shallow curve
- Gaps opening between arch bricks at the top or bottom edge
Brick arch repairs prices in Loughborough
These are guide prices for Loughborough, using East Midlands rates and including VAT. Your written quote follows photos or a survey, and is fixed once the repair is specified.
| Item | Guide price | Per |
|---|---|---|
| Stitching and reinforcing a sound archest. | £390 – £1,200 | per arch |
| Rebuilding an arch (one side) | £880 – £1,250 | per opening |
| Rebuilding an arch (both sides) | £1,750 – £2,550 | per opening |
How we usually approach brick arch repairs
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 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.
Questions about brick arch repairs in Loughborough
How much should I budget for brick arch repairs in Loughborough?
Guide prices for brick arch repairs in Loughborough start from about £390 per arch, including VAT, on East Midlands 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 Loughborough?
We do. Loughborough and the surrounding area are covered, including nearby Mountsorrel and Coalville. A free initial assessment from your photos is the first step.
Why do houses in Leicestershire crack?
Leicestershire has Mercia Mudstone, Lias clay and glacial till across much of the county, with the Coalville and Swadlincote coalfield in the north-west. Clay soils near large trees can move with the seasons. Only an investigation can say why a particular building has moved.
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.
Related work in Loughborough
- Subsidence insurance claim repairs
- Underpinning
- Boundary and garden wall repairs
- Bay window subsidence repairs
- Subsidence repairs
Brick arch repairs near Loughborough
Once the brick and mortar match is agreed for your Loughborough arch, we put a fixed price in writing before any work is booked.