Cardiff · South Glamorgan
Brick arch repairs in Cardiff
A dropped keystone over a front door is a familiar sight on older streets, in Cardiff 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£370per arch inc VAT
- Postcodes
- CF10, CF11, CF24
- Population
- about 370,000
- Area
- South Glamorgan
- Pricing region
- Wales
What is the ground like in South Glamorgan?
Cardiff is in South Glamorgan and takes in postcode districts CF10, CF11, CF24. About 370,000 people live there. Nearby, we also cover Penarth (3 miles), Caerphilly (7 miles) and Barry (7 miles).
South Glamorgan has a mix of ground, with clay in some places and firmer rock in others. Ground movement here is more often linked to soils, drains and trees than to mining. Housing stock in South Glamorgan: Victorian terraces in Cardiff and Penarth, inter-war semis and post-war estates.
How we usually approach brick arch repairs
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
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
- A flat arch that has started to sag into a shallow curve
- A vertical crack running up from the middle of the arch
- Mortar falling out of the arch joints after frosty weather
Brick arch repairs prices in Cardiff
For Cardiff we use Wales rates. Treat the table as a budget guide, inc VAT; the price you pay is the one on your written quote.
| 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 |
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.
Questions about brick arch repairs in Cardiff
What is the price of brick arch repairs in Cardiff?
Guide prices for brick arch repairs in Cardiff 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.
Do you carry out brick arch repairs in Cardiff?
Yes. We take enquiries from across Cardiff, including CF10, CF11, CF24, and from nearby places such as Penarth and Caerphilly. Send photos for a free initial view and we will tell you what happens next.
Does the ground around Cardiff cause cracking?
Cardiff is built on Mercia Mudstone, river gravels and alluvium, and the Vale of Glamorgan on Lias limestone and clay. Soft alluvium near the rivers and docks can settle. 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.
More repairs we carry out in Cardiff
- Structural crack repairs
- Gable end wall repairs
- Underpinning
- Boundary and garden wall repairs
- Chimney stack repairs
Brick arch repairs near Cardiff
Send a straight-on photo of the dropped or cracked arch at your Cardiff home, and we will offer a free view on whether it needs reinforcing or rebuilding.