Hawick · Scottish Borders
Brick arch repairs in Hawick
A dropped keystone over a front door is a familiar sight on older streets, in Hawick and beyond, and it rarely fixes itself. We look at whether the arch bricks are sound and whether the wall either side has moved, then recommend the lighter repair where it will work.
Guide price from£380per arch inc VAT
- Postcodes
- TD9
- Population
- about 14,000
- Area
- Scottish Borders
- Pricing region
- Scotland
Why does the ground in Scottish Borders matter for brick arch repairs?
Postcode districts TD9 cover Hawick, a Scottish Borders town of about 14,000 people. Neighbouring towns we cover: Galashiels (13 miles), Kelso (18 miles) and Peebles (22 miles).
Shrinkable clay is less common in Scottish Borders than in south-east England. Ground movement here is more often linked to soils, drains and trees than to mining. Across Scottish Borders, most homes are whinstone and sandstone mill-town houses, rural cottages and post-war estates.
How we usually approach brick arch repairs
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
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 during brick arch repairs, step by step?
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.
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
- A flat arch that has started to sag into a shallow curve
- A vertical crack running up from the middle of the arch
Brick arch repairs prices in Hawick
These are guide prices for Hawick, using Scotland rates and including VAT. Your written quote follows photos or a survey, and is fixed once the repair is specified.
| 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.
Questions about brick arch repairs in Hawick
What is the price of brick arch repairs in Hawick?
Guide prices for brick arch repairs in Hawick 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 Hawick?
Yes. We take enquiries from across Hawick, including TD9, and from nearby places such as Galashiels and Kelso. Send photos for a free initial view and we will tell you what happens next.
Does the ground around Hawick cause cracking?
The Borders are mostly older hard rock with glacial till and river gravels along the Tweed and its tributaries. Stone mill towns and rubble walls shape most structural repairs. 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.
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.
More repairs we carry out in Hawick
- Structural crack repairs
- Structural surveys and crack monitoring
- Boundary and garden wall repairs
- Subsidence insurance claim repairs
- Gable end wall repairs
Brick arch repairs near Hawick
Request a written, no-obligation price for arch repairs in Hawick; every arch is itemised, along with any work needed on the inside face.