Harrogate · North Yorkshire
Brick arch repairs in Harrogate
Rebuilding an arch in Harrogate 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£380per arch inc VAT
- Postcodes
- HG1, HG2
- Population
- about 89,000
- Area
- North Yorkshire
- Pricing region
- Yorkshire and the Humber
Is North Yorkshire prone to ground movement?
Harrogate (HG1, HG2) has around 89,000 residents and sits in North Yorkshire. Nearby places we cover include Ripon (10 miles), Yeadon (11 miles) and Horsforth (11 miles).
Clay soils are found in parts of North Yorkshire. Parts of North Yorkshire lie on a former coalfield, so a coal mining search is worth checking if movement has no obvious cause. Housing stock in North Yorkshire: Stone cottages, Georgian and Victorian houses in York and Harrogate, and brick terraces on Teesside.
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.
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.
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
- Cracks stepping out from the arch ends into the wall
- The centre bricks of an arch sitting lower than the rest
- Gaps opening between arch bricks at the top or bottom edge
Brick arch repairs prices in Harrogate
For Harrogate we use Yorkshire and the Humber 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. | £380 – £1,150 | per arch |
| Rebuilding an arch (one side) | £855 – £1,250 | per opening |
| Rebuilding an arch (both sides) | £1,700 – £2,450 | per opening |
How we usually approach 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
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 Harrogate
How much should I budget for brick arch repairs in Harrogate?
Guide prices for brick arch repairs in Harrogate start from about £380 per arch, including VAT, on Yorkshire and the Humber 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 Harrogate?
Yes, Harrogate is covered, along with postcode districts HG1, HG2. We also cover nearby Ripon and Yeadon.
Why do houses in North Yorkshire crack?
North Yorkshire ranges from limestone dales and moors to clays and glacial deposits in the Vale of York, with the Selby coalfield in the south and ironstone workings in Cleveland. Teesside has areas of soft and made ground. 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.
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.
Related work in Harrogate
- Extension pulling away repairs
- Subsidence insurance claim repairs
- Structural crack repairs
- Retaining wall repairs
- Bay window subsidence repairs
Brick arch repairs near Harrogate
If bricks in an arch at your Harrogate property are loose, photograph them from a safe distance and send them over for advice.