Brecon · Powys
Brick arch repairs in Brecon
Before repairing a brick arch at a Brecon 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
- LD3
- Population
- about 8,000
- Area
- Powys
- Pricing region
- Wales
Is Powys prone to ground movement?
We cover Brecon and its postcode districts LD3, part of Powys, with a population of roughly 8,000. We also take enquiries from nearby Merthyr Tydfil (14 miles), Ebbw Vale (14 miles) and Aberdare (16 miles).
Shrinkable clay is less common in Powys than in south-east England. Ground movement here is more often linked to soils, drains and trees than to mining. Housing stock in Powys: Stone farmhouses and cottages, market-town terraces and small post-war estates.
How much will brick arch repairs cost in Brecon?
The ranges below reflect typical Wales costs for brick arch repairs, including VAT. Scaffold, access and making good can push a job to the top of the range.
| 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 |
Which repair method suits a home in Brecon?
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
What happens when we carry out brick arch repairs in Brecon?
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.
Signs you may need brick arch repairs
- Mortar falling out of the arch joints after frosty weather
- Gaps opening between arch bricks at the top or bottom edge
- A vertical crack running up from the middle of the arch
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.
Brick arch repairs in Brecon: questions and answers
What is the price of brick arch repairs in Brecon?
Guide prices for brick arch repairs in Brecon 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 Brecon?
Survey visits to Brecon are by arrangement because of travel and access. We can still give a free initial view from photos, and we tell you any travel cost before a visit is booked.
Does the ground around Brecon cause cracking?
Powys is largely older hard rock and glacial deposits, with alluvium in the river valleys. Clay shrinkage is uncommon, but older stone buildings and rubble walls bring their own structural issues. Only an investigation can say why a particular building has moved.
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.
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.
More repairs we carry out in Brecon
- Chimney stack repairs
- Lintel replacement
- Extension pulling away repairs
- Bay window subsidence repairs
- Subsidence insurance claim repairs
Brick arch repairs near Brecon
Once the brick and mortar match is agreed for your Brecon arch, we put a fixed price in writing before any work is booked.