Chertsey · Surrey
Brick arch repairs in Chertsey
Flat soldier arches on Chertsey 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£450per arch inc VAT
- Postcodes
- KT15, KT16, TW17
- Population
- about 16,000
- Area
- Surrey
- Pricing region
- South East
How do local ground conditions affect brick arch repairs in Chertsey?
Postcode districts KT15, KT16, TW17 cover Chertsey, a Surrey town of about 16,000 people. Nearby, we also cover Weybridge (2 miles), Staines-upon-Thames (3 miles) and Egham (4 miles).
Shrinkable clay is widespread in Surrey. Ground movement here is more often linked to soils, drains and trees than to mining. Across Surrey, most homes are Victorian and Edwardian villas, 1930s semis and detached houses in the commuter towns, and post-war estates.
Which repair method suits a home in Chertsey?
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
What happens when we carry out brick arch repairs in Chertsey?
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.
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.
Signs you may need brick arch repairs
- Gaps opening between arch bricks at the top or bottom edge
- Cracks stepping out from the arch ends into the wall
- The centre bricks of an arch sitting lower than the rest
How much will brick arch repairs cost in Chertsey?
Prices in Chertsey are worked out on South East 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. | £450 – £1,350 | per arch |
| Rebuilding an arch (one side) | £1,000 – £1,450 | per opening |
| Rebuilding an arch (both sides) | £2,000 – £2,900 | 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.
Brick arch repairs in Chertsey: questions and answers
How much should I budget for brick arch repairs in Chertsey?
Guide prices for brick arch repairs in Chertsey start from about £450 per arch, including VAT, on South East 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 Chertsey?
Yes, Chertsey is covered, along with postcode districts KT15, KT16, TW17. We also cover nearby Weybridge and Staines-upon-Thames.
Why do houses in Surrey crack?
North Surrey sits on London Clay, the south on Weald Clay, with chalk along the North Downs and sands in the west. Large gardens with mature trees on clay make seasonal subsidence a familiar problem. 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.
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.
Related work in Chertsey
- Chimney stack repairs
- Concrete repairs
- Bowing wall repairs
- Resin injection ground stabilisation
- Gable end wall repairs
Brick arch repairs near Chertsey
If bricks in an arch at your Chertsey property are loose, photograph them from a safe distance and send them over for advice.