Penarth · South Glamorgan
Brick arch repairs in Penarth
A dropped keystone over a front door is a familiar sight on older streets, in Penarth 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
- CF64
- Population
- about 23,000
- Area
- South Glamorgan
- Pricing region
- Wales
Why does the ground in South Glamorgan matter for brick arch repairs?
Penarth, South Glamorgan: about 23,000 residents across postcode districts CF64. If you are just outside Penarth, we also cover Cardiff (3 miles), Barry (5 miles) and Caerphilly (10 miles).
Parts of South Glamorgan have clay that can shrink near trees in dry spells. Ground movement here is more often linked to soils, drains and trees than to mining. What you mostly find across South Glamorgan: Victorian terraces in Cardiff and Penarth, inter-war semis and post-war estates.
Brick arch repairs prices in Penarth
Prices in Penarth are worked out on Wales rates. They include VAT and are a starting point: access, the extent of the damage and whether an engineer or building control is involved all move the figure.
| 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 |
How we usually approach 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
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.
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.
What to look for before calling about brick arch repairs
- A vertical crack running up from the middle of the arch
- Mortar falling out of the arch joints after frosty weather
- A flat arch that has started to sag into a shallow curve
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 Penarth
What is the price of brick arch repairs in Penarth?
Guide prices for brick arch repairs in Penarth 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 Penarth?
Yes, Penarth is covered, along with postcode districts CF64. We also cover nearby Cardiff and Barry.
Does the ground around Penarth 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.
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.
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.
More repairs we carry out in Penarth
- Retaining wall repairs
- Bay window subsidence repairs
- Structural crack repairs
- Concrete repairs
- Bowing wall repairs
Brick arch repairs near Penarth
Once the brick and mortar match is agreed for your Penarth arch, we put a fixed price in writing before any work is booked.