Brick arch repairs in Bath

Postcodes: BA1, BA2
Population: about 100,000
Area: Somerset
Pricing region: South West

Why does the ground in Somerset matter for brick arch repairs?

With roughly 100,000 people, Bath spans postcode districts BA1, BA2 in Somerset. We also take enquiries from nearby Keynsham (6 miles), Trowbridge (8 miles) and Kingswood (8 miles).

Parts of Somerset have clay that can shrink near trees in dry spells. Parts of Somerset lie on a former coalfield, so a coal mining search is worth checking if movement has no obvious cause. Typical buildings in Somerset: Bath stone Georgian terraces, Victorian houses in Taunton and Weston-super-Mare, and post-war estates.

Repair options we may recommend

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 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

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.

Is it time for brick arch repairs? Common signs

A vertical crack running up from the middle of the arch
The centre bricks of an arch sitting lower than the rest
Gaps opening between arch bricks at the top or bottom edge

What should you budget for brick arch repairs in Bath?

These are guide prices for Bath, using South West rates and including VAT. Your written quote follows photos or a survey, and is fixed once the repair is specified.

Guide prices inc VAT on South West rates. Items marked est. are our estimates.
Item	Guide price	Per
Stitching and reinforcing a sound archest.	£410 – £1,250	per arch
Rebuilding an arch (one side)	£925 – £1,350	per opening
Rebuilding an arch (both sides)	£1,850 – £2,700	per opening

Rules for brick arch repairs in England

Like-for-like repairs such as crack stitching and repointing do not usually need building control approval in England, but anything that changes or strengthens the structure, such as underpinning or rebuilding a wall, does. If the work touches a party wall, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 may apply.

Your brick arch repairs questions

How much will brick arch repairs cost in Bath?

Guide prices for brick arch repairs in Bath start from about £410 per arch, including VAT, on South West rates. Your fixed written price follows photos or a survey and depends on the extent of the work and access.

Do you cover Bath?

We do. Bath and the surrounding area are covered, including nearby Keynsham and Trowbridge. A free initial assessment from your photos is the first step.

Is the ground in Somerset prone to subsidence?

Somerset mixes Lias clays, Mercia Mudstone, limestone hills and the peat and alluvium of the Levels around Bridgwater, which can settle. The former Somerset coalfield around Radstock and Midsomer Norton left recorded workings. Only an investigation can say why a particular building has moved.

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.

Should a brick arch be repaired with lime mortar?

On older houses built with soft bricks and lime, yes, in most cases. Lime mortar lets the wall breathe and is weaker than the brick, so any movement or frost damage happens in the joints rather than the bricks. Modern hard brickwork can take a cement-based mortar.

Other structural repairs in Bath

Brick arch repairs near Bath

Our guide-price tool covers arch reinforcement and rebuilds in Bath; add a photo and we can say which applies to yours.