Formby · Merseyside
Brick arch repairs in Formby
A dropped keystone over a front door is a familiar sight on older streets, in Formby and beyond, and it rarely fixes itself. We look at whether the arch bricks are sound and whether the wall either side has moved, then recommend the lighter repair where it will work.
Guide price from£385per arch inc VAT
- Postcodes
- L37, L38
- Population
- about 23,000
- Area
- Merseyside
- Pricing region
- North West
Why does the ground in Merseyside matter for brick arch repairs?
With roughly 23,000 people, Formby spans postcode districts L37, L38 in Merseyside. Nearby, we also cover Maghull (6 miles), Southport (7 miles) and Bootle (7 miles).
Parts of Merseyside have clay that can shrink near trees in dry spells. Parts of Merseyside lie on a former coalfield, so a coal mining search is worth checking if movement has no obvious cause. Housing stock in Merseyside: Victorian terraces and villas, inter-war council estates and post-war semis.
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
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
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
- Gaps opening between arch bricks at the top or bottom edge
- A vertical crack running up from the middle of the arch
- A flat arch that has started to sag into a shallow curve
Guide prices for brick arch repairs in Formby
These are guide prices for Formby, using North West 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. | £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 |
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
What is the price of brick arch repairs in Formby?
Guide prices for brick arch repairs in Formby 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 Formby?
Yes. We take enquiries from across Formby, including L37, L38, and from nearby places such as Maghull and Southport. Send photos for a free initial view and we will tell you what happens next.
Does the ground around Formby cause cracking?
Merseyside is mostly sandstone with glacial till on top, with soft coastal deposits in Sefton and the Lancashire coalfield extending under St Helens and parts of Knowsley. Old docks and industry left made ground in places. Only an investigation can say why a particular building has moved.
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.
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.
More repairs we carry out in Formby
- Resin injection ground stabilisation
- Concrete repairs
- Bowing wall repairs
- Mining subsidence repairs
- Lintel replacement
Brick arch repairs near Formby
Our guide-price tool covers arch reinforcement and rebuilds in Formby; add a photo and we can say which applies to yours.