Brick arch repairs in Merthyr Tydfil

Postcodes: CF47, CF48
Population: about 44,000
Area: Mid Glamorgan
Pricing region: Wales

What is the ground like in Mid Glamorgan?

Postcode districts CF47, CF48 cover Merthyr Tydfil, a Mid Glamorgan town of about 44,000 people. If you are just outside Merthyr Tydfil, we also cover Aberdare (4 miles), Mountain Ash (4 miles) and Rhondda (7 miles).

Clay soils are found in parts of Mid Glamorgan. Historic coal workings are recorded beneath parts of Mid Glamorgan, and a coal mining search is worth checking where movement is unexplained. Housing stock in Mid Glamorgan: Long stone and brick terraces on valley sides, Victorian houses in Bridgend and post-war estates.

What to expect when we carry out brick arch repairs

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.
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.

Is it time for brick arch repairs? Common signs

Gaps opening between arch bricks at the top or bottom edge
Cracks stepping out from the arch ends into the wall
Mortar falling out of the arch joints after frosty weather

What should you budget for brick arch repairs in Merthyr Tydfil?

For Merthyr Tydfil we use Wales rates. Treat the table as a budget guide, inc VAT; the price you pay is the one on your written quote.

Guide prices inc VAT on Wales rates. Items marked est. are our estimates.
Item	Guide price	Per
Stitching and reinforcing a sound archest.	£370 – £1,100	per arch
Rebuilding an arch (one side)	£830 – £1,200	per opening
Rebuilding an arch (both sides)	£1,650 – £2,400	per opening

Repair options we may recommend

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

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

Rules for brick arch repairs in Wales

In Wales, small like-for-like repairs do not usually need approval, but work that alters or strengthens the structure needs building control under the Welsh Building Regulations, and the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 can apply to shared walls.

Your brick arch repairs questions

How much will brick arch repairs cost in Merthyr Tydfil?

Guide prices for brick arch repairs in Merthyr Tydfil start from about £370 per arch, including VAT, on Wales rates. Your fixed written price follows photos or a survey and depends on the extent of the work and access.

Do you cover Merthyr Tydfil?

Yes, Merthyr Tydfil is covered, along with postcode districts CF47, CF48. We also cover nearby Aberdare and Mountain Ash.

Is the ground in Mid Glamorgan prone to subsidence?

Mid Glamorgan lies on the South Wales coalfield, with dense historic workings, spoil tips and steep valley sides. Landslip, retaining walls and mining legacy are all live issues in the valleys. 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.

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.

Other structural repairs in Merthyr Tydfil

Brick arch repairs near Merthyr Tydfil

Once the brick and mortar match is agreed for your Merthyr Tydfil arch, we put a fixed price in writing before any work is booked.