Mountain Ash · Mid Glamorgan
Brick arch repairs in Mountain Ash
Before repairing a brick arch at a Mountain Ash 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£370per arch inc VAT
- Postcodes
- CF45
- Population
- about 11,000
- Area
- Mid Glamorgan
- Pricing region
- Wales
Is Mid Glamorgan prone to ground movement?
Postcode districts CF45 cover Mountain Ash, a Mid Glamorgan town of about 11,000 people. Neighbouring towns we cover: Rhondda (3 miles), Aberdare (4 miles) and Merthyr Tydfil (4 miles).
Parts of Mid Glamorgan have clay that can shrink near trees in dry spells. 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 should you budget for brick arch repairs in Mountain Ash?
Prices in Mountain Ash are worked out on Wales 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. | £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
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
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
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.
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.
Is it time for brick arch repairs? Common signs
- A vertical crack running up from the middle of the arch
- Mortar falling out of the arch joints after frosty weather
- The centre bricks of an arch sitting lower than the rest
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
What is the price of brick arch repairs in Mountain Ash?
Guide prices for brick arch repairs in Mountain Ash 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 carry out brick arch repairs in Mountain Ash?
We do. Mountain Ash and the surrounding area are covered, including nearby Rhondda and Aberdare. A free initial assessment from your photos is the first step.
Does the ground around Mountain Ash cause cracking?
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.
Should a brick arch be repaired with lime mortar?
On older houses built with soft bricks and lime, yes, in most cases. Lime mortar lets the wall breathe and is weaker than the brick, so any movement or frost damage happens in the joints rather than the bricks. Modern hard brickwork can take a cement-based mortar.
More repairs we carry out in Mountain Ash
- Resin injection ground stabilisation
- Subsidence insurance claim repairs
- Roof structure repairs
- Extension pulling away repairs
- Bowing wall repairs
Brick arch repairs near Mountain Ash
Request a written, no-obligation price for arch repairs in Mountain Ash; every arch is itemised, along with any work needed on the inside face.