Brick arch repairs in Lichfield

Postcodes: WS13
Population: about 35,000
Area: Staffordshire
Pricing region: West Midlands

Is Staffordshire prone to ground movement?

With roughly 35,000 people, Lichfield spans postcode districts WS13 in Staffordshire. Nearby, we also cover Burntwood (4 miles), Tamworth (6 miles) and Aldridge (7 miles).

Clay soils are found in parts of Staffordshire. 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.

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?

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.

What to look for before calling about brick arch repairs

Gaps opening between arch bricks at the top or bottom edge
Mortar falling out of the arch joints after frosty weather
A vertical crack running up from the middle of the arch

Brick arch repairs prices in Lichfield

For Lichfield 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.

Guide prices inc VAT on West Midlands rates. Items marked est. are our estimates.
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

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.

Questions about brick arch repairs in Lichfield

How much will brick arch repairs cost in Lichfield?

Guide prices for brick arch repairs in Lichfield 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.

Do you cover Lichfield?

We do. Lichfield and the surrounding area are covered, including nearby Burntwood and Tamworth. A free initial assessment from your photos is the first step.

Is the ground in Staffordshire prone to subsidence?

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.

Can you match the original bricks?

Usually, because most arches are rebuilt with their own cleaned bricks, which is the best match of all. Damaged bricks are replaced with reclaimed or new bricks chosen for size, colour and texture, and the mortar is matched to the surrounding joints.

Other structural repairs in Lichfield

Brick arch repairs near Lichfield

If bricks in an arch at your Lichfield property are loose, photograph them from a safe distance and send them over for advice.