Port Glasgow · Renfrewshire and Inverclyde
Brick arch repairs in Port Glasgow
Before repairing a brick arch at a Port Glasgow 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£380per arch inc VAT
- Postcodes
- PA14, PA15
- Population
- about 14,000
- Area
- Renfrewshire and Inverclyde
- Pricing region
- Scotland
How do local ground conditions affect brick arch repairs in Port Glasgow?
Postcode districts PA14, PA15 cover Port Glasgow, a Renfrewshire and Inverclyde town of about 14,000 people. If you are just outside Port Glasgow, we also cover Greenock (3 miles), Alexandria (5 miles) and Gourock (5 miles).
Shrinkable clay is less common in Renfrewshire and Inverclyde than in south-east England. Parts of Renfrewshire and Inverclyde lie on a former coalfield, so a coal mining search is worth checking if movement has no obvious cause. Housing stock in Renfrewshire and Inverclyde: Sandstone tenements, villas in East Renfrewshire, and post-war estates.
Repair options we may recommend
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
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
What to expect when we carry out brick arch repairs
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.
Is it time for brick arch repairs? Common signs
- A flat arch that has started to sag into a shallow curve
- The centre bricks of an arch sitting lower than the rest
- Mortar falling out of the arch joints after frosty weather
What should you budget for brick arch repairs in Port Glasgow?
The ranges below reflect typical Scotland 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. | £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 |
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.
Your brick arch repairs questions
What is the price of brick arch repairs in Port Glasgow?
Guide prices for brick arch repairs in Port Glasgow 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.
Do you carry out brick arch repairs in Port Glasgow?
Yes, Port Glasgow is covered, along with postcode districts PA14, PA15. We also cover nearby Greenock and Alexandria.
Does the ground around Port Glasgow cause cracking?
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.
Do flat brick arches need a lintel?
Many flat soldier arches were built with a hidden steel bar or timber behind, because they have little true arch action. When repairing one, we check what is supporting it and, where needed, reinforce it with bars or add suitable support behind.
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.
More repairs we carry out in Port Glasgow
- Gable end wall repairs
- Chimney stack repairs
- Retaining wall repairs
- Bay window subsidence repairs
- Extension pulling away repairs
Brick arch repairs near Port Glasgow
Our guide-price tool covers arch reinforcement and rebuilds in Port Glasgow; add a photo and we can say which applies to yours.