Leek · Staffordshire
Brick arch repairs in Leek
Flat soldier arches on Leek houses tend to sag once a hidden bar rusts or an old window frame is replaced. Reinforcing them with stainless bars in the joints above is often enough, without taking the arch down.
Guide price from£400per arch inc VAT
- Postcodes
- ST13
- Population
- about 19,000
- Area
- Staffordshire
- Pricing region
- West Midlands
Why does the ground in Staffordshire matter for brick arch repairs?
We cover Leek and its postcode districts ST13, part of Staffordshire, with a population of roughly 19,000. We also take enquiries from nearby Biddulph (6 miles), Congleton (9 miles) and Kidsgrove (9 miles).
Parts of Staffordshire have clay that can shrink near trees in dry spells. Parts of Staffordshire lie on a former coalfield, so a coal mining search is worth checking if movement has no obvious cause. Typical buildings in Staffordshire: Potteries terraces, brick villas, inter-war semis and post-war estates.
What happens when we carry out brick arch repairs in Leek?
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.
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.
Signs you may need brick arch repairs
- The centre bricks of an arch sitting lower than the rest
- Gaps opening between arch bricks at the top or bottom edge
- Cracks stepping out from the arch ends into the wall
How much will brick arch repairs cost in Leek?
For Leek we use West Midlands 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. | £400 – £1,200 | per arch |
| Rebuilding an arch (one side) | £900 – £1,300 | per opening |
| Rebuilding an arch (both sides) | £1,800 – £2,600 | per opening |
Which repair method suits a home in Leek?
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
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
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.
Brick arch repairs in Leek: questions and answers
How much should I budget for brick arch repairs in Leek?
Guide prices for brick arch repairs in Leek start from about £400 per arch, including VAT, on West Midlands rates. Your fixed written price follows photos or a survey and depends on the extent of the work and access.
Can you survey a property in Leek?
We do. Leek and the surrounding area are covered, including nearby Biddulph and Congleton. A free initial assessment from your photos is the first step.
Why do houses in Staffordshire crack?
North Staffordshire around Stoke-on-Trent, Newcastle-under-Lyme and Kidsgrove, and the Cannock Chase area, lie on coalfields with recorded workings. Much of the rest of the county is Mercia Mudstone and glacial clay. Only an investigation can say why a particular building has moved.
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.
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.
Related work in Leek
- Resin injection ground stabilisation
- Extension pulling away repairs
- Underpinning
- Floor joist repairs
- Crack stitching
Brick arch repairs near Leek
If bricks in an arch at your Leek property are loose, photograph them from a safe distance and send them over for advice.