Wallsend · Tyne and Wear
Brick arch repairs in Wallsend
Rebuilding an arch in Wallsend is a precise job: a former cut to the exact curve, tight joints and a keystone set at the right height. Done well, the new arch looks as though it was always there.
Guide price from£370per arch inc VAT
- Postcodes
- NE6, NE28, NE31
- Population
- about 43,000
- Area
- Tyne and Wear
- Pricing region
- North East
What is the ground like in Tyne and Wear?
We cover Wallsend and its postcode districts NE6, NE28, NE31, part of Tyne and Wear, with a population of roughly 43,000. Nearby, we also cover Jarrow (2 miles), Newcastle upon Tyne (3 miles) and South Shields (4 miles).
Parts of Tyne and Wear have clay that can shrink near trees in dry spells. Historic coal workings are recorded beneath parts of Tyne and Wear, and a coal mining search is worth checking where movement is unexplained. What you mostly find across Tyne and Wear: Tyneside flats and terraces, Victorian villas, inter-war council estates and post-war semis.
Symptoms that point to brick arch repairs
- Cracks stepping out from the arch ends into the wall
- A vertical crack running up from the middle of the arch
- Gaps opening between arch bricks at the top or bottom edge
Guide prices for brick arch repairs in Wallsend
These are guide prices for Wallsend, using North East rates and including VAT. Your written quote follows photos or a survey, and is fixed once the repair is specified.
| 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 |
Methods for brick arch repairs
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
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
From first photo to finished repair
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.
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.
Frequently asked questions
How much should I budget for brick arch repairs in Wallsend?
Guide prices for brick arch repairs in Wallsend start from about £370 per arch, including VAT, on North 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 Wallsend?
Yes, Wallsend is covered, along with postcode districts NE6, NE28, NE31. We also cover nearby Jarrow and Newcastle upon Tyne.
Why do houses in Tyne and Wear crack?
Tyne and Wear lies on the Durham and Northumberland coalfield, with old shallow workings recorded beneath parts of Newcastle, Gateshead and Sunderland, mostly under a cover of glacial clay. 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.
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 Wallsend
- Gable end wall repairs
- Subsidence insurance claim repairs
- Bay window subsidence repairs
- Retaining wall repairs
- Lintel replacement
Brick arch repairs near Wallsend
Send a straight-on photo of the dropped or cracked arch at your Wallsend home, and we will offer a free view on whether it needs reinforcing or rebuilding.