Thetford · Norfolk
Brick arch repairs in Thetford
A dropped keystone over a front door is a familiar sight on older streets, in Thetford 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£420per arch inc VAT
- Postcodes
- IP24
- Population
- about 25,000
- Area
- Norfolk
- Pricing region
- East of England
Is Norfolk prone to ground movement?
Thetford is in Norfolk and takes in postcode districts IP24. About 25,000 people live there. We also take enquiries from nearby Bury St Edmunds (12 miles), Newmarket (19 miles) and Stowmarket (19 miles).
Parts of Norfolk have clay that can shrink near trees in dry spells. Ground movement here is more often linked to soils, drains and trees than to mining. What you mostly find across Norfolk: flint and brick cottages, Victorian terraces in Norwich and Great Yarmouth, and post-war bungalows.
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
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.
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.
What to look for before calling about brick arch repairs
- Mortar falling out of the arch joints after frosty weather
- A flat arch that has started to sag into a shallow curve
- A vertical crack running up from the middle of the arch
Brick arch repairs prices in Thetford
For Thetford we use East of England 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. | £420 – £1,250 | per arch |
| Rebuilding an arch (one side) | £945 – £1,350 | per opening |
| Rebuilding an arch (both sides) | £1,900 – £2,750 | 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.
Questions about brick arch repairs in Thetford
What is the price of brick arch repairs in Thetford?
Guide prices for brick arch repairs in Thetford start from about £420 per arch, including VAT, on East of England 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 Thetford?
Yes, Thetford is covered, along with postcode districts IP24. We also cover nearby Bury St Edmunds and Newmarket.
Does the ground around Thetford cause cracking?
Norfolk is chalk covered by glacial sands, gravels and boulder clay, with fen silts in the west and soft cliffs on the north-east coast. Boulder clay areas can shrink near trees, and historic chalk mines are recorded under parts of Norwich. Only an investigation can say why a particular building has moved.
Can a dropped arch be repaired without rebuilding it?
Yes, if the drop is small and the brickwork is in good condition. Bars bonded into the joints above can take the load off the arch and hold it in place. If the bricks are loose or the arch has dropped badly, rebuilding is the more reliable repair.
Why has the middle of my brick arch dropped?
The centre of an arch usually drops because the bricks have lost their wedge, either because the wall at the sides has moved or the mortar has worn away. A rotting timber hidden behind the arch is another common cause. The keystone slipping is the visible result.
More repairs we carry out in Thetford
- Floor joist repairs
- Extension pulling away repairs
- Gable end wall repairs
- Subsidence insurance claim repairs
- Retaining wall repairs
Brick arch repairs near Thetford
Request a written, no-obligation price for arch repairs in Thetford; every arch is itemised, along with any work needed on the inside face.