Llandrindod Wells · Powys
Brick arch repairs in Llandrindod Wells
Flat soldier arches on Llandrindod Wells houses tend to sag once a hidden bar rusts or an old window frame is replaced. Reinforcing them with stainless bars in the joints above is often enough, without taking the arch down.
Guide price from£370per arch inc VAT
- Postcodes
- LD1
- Population
- about 5,000
- Area
- Powys
- Pricing region
- Wales
What is the ground like in Powys?
With roughly 5,000 people, Llandrindod Wells spans postcode districts LD1 in Powys. We also take enquiries from nearby Newtown (19 miles) and Brecon (20 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. What you mostly find across Powys: stone farmhouses and cottages, market-town terraces and small post-war estates.
What happens when we carry out brick arch repairs in Llandrindod Wells?
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.
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.
Signs you may need brick arch repairs
- The centre bricks of an arch sitting lower than the rest
- Cracks stepping out from the arch ends into the wall
- Gaps opening between arch bricks at the top or bottom edge
How much will brick arch repairs cost in Llandrindod Wells?
Prices in Llandrindod Wells 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 |
Which repair method suits a home in Llandrindod Wells?
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
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 Llandrindod Wells: questions and answers
How much should I budget for brick arch repairs in Llandrindod Wells?
Guide prices for brick arch repairs in Llandrindod Wells 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.
Can you survey a property in Llandrindod Wells?
Survey visits to Llandrindod Wells 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.
Why do houses in Powys crack?
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.
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.
Related work in Llandrindod Wells
- Wall tie replacement
- Lintel replacement
- Boundary and garden wall repairs
- Crack stitching
- Gable end wall repairs
Brick arch repairs near Llandrindod Wells
Send a straight-on photo of the dropped or cracked arch at your Llandrindod Wells home, and we will offer a free view on whether it needs reinforcing or rebuilding.