Brick arch repairs in Greenock

Postcodes: PA14, PA15, PA16, PA19
Population: about 41,000
Area: Renfrewshire and Inverclyde
Pricing region: Scotland

What should you know about the ground under Greenock?

We cover Greenock and its postcode districts PA14, PA15, PA16, PA19, part of Renfrewshire and Inverclyde, with a population of roughly 41,000. Nearby places we cover include Gourock (2 miles), Port Glasgow (3 miles) and Alexandria (7 miles).

Most of Renfrewshire and Inverclyde is on firmer ground than the clay belts of the south-east. Parts of Renfrewshire and Inverclyde lie on a former coalfield, so a coal mining search is worth checking if movement has no obvious cause. Across Renfrewshire and Inverclyde, most homes are sandstone tenements, villas in East Renfrewshire, and post-war estates.

From first photo to finished repair

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.

Symptoms that point to brick arch repairs

A flat arch that has started to sag into a shallow curve
A vertical crack running up from the middle of the arch
The centre bricks of an arch sitting lower than the rest

Guide prices for brick arch repairs in Greenock

For Greenock we use Scotland rates. Treat the table as a budget guide, inc VAT; the price you pay is the one on your written quote.

Guide prices inc VAT on Scotland rates. Items marked est. are our estimates.
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

Methods for 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

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

Rules for brick arch repairs in Scotland

In Scotland, small repairs often do not need a building warrant, but structural alterations and strengthening generally do. Check with the council’s building standards service if unsure; there is no Party Wall Act in Scotland.

Frequently asked questions

How much should I budget for brick arch repairs in Greenock?

Guide prices for brick arch repairs in Greenock start from about £380 per arch, including VAT, on Scotland 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 Greenock?

Yes. We take enquiries from across Greenock, including PA14, PA15, PA16, PA19, and from nearby places such as Gourock and Port Glasgow. Send photos for a free initial view and we will tell you what happens next.

Why do houses in Renfrewshire and Inverclyde crack?

Renfrewshire has glacial till and Clyde alluvium with coal workings recorded in parts, while Inverclyde's towns climb steep slopes above the Clyde with many retaining walls. Only an investigation can say why a particular building has moved.

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.

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 Greenock

Brick arch repairs near Greenock

Once the brick and mortar match is agreed for your Greenock arch, we put a fixed price in writing before any work is booked.