Rugby · Warwickshire
Brick arch repairs in Rugby
A dropped keystone over a front door is a familiar sight on older streets, in Rugby 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£400per arch inc VAT
- Postcodes
- CV21, CV22
- Population
- about 78,000
- Area
- Warwickshire
- Pricing region
- West Midlands
How do local ground conditions affect brick arch repairs in Rugby?
Postcode districts CV21, CV22 cover Rugby, a Warwickshire town of about 78,000 people. Neighbouring towns we cover: Daventry (9 miles), Coventry (11 miles) and Bedworth (11 miles).
Clay soils are found in parts of Warwickshire. Parts of Warwickshire lie on a former coalfield, so a coal mining search is worth checking if movement has no obvious cause. Across Warwickshire, most homes are Regency houses in Leamington Spa, timber-framed buildings in Stratford and Warwick, and brick terraces and estates in the north.
Brick arch repairs prices in Rugby
Prices in Rugby are worked out on West Midlands 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. | £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 |
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.
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.
What to look for before calling about brick arch repairs
- A flat arch that has started to sag into a shallow curve
- Cracks stepping out from the arch ends into the wall
- Gaps opening between arch bricks at the top or bottom edge
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 Rugby
What is the price of brick arch repairs in Rugby?
Guide prices for brick arch repairs in Rugby 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 carry out brick arch repairs in Rugby?
We do. Rugby and the surrounding area are covered, including nearby Daventry and Coventry. A free initial assessment from your photos is the first step.
Does the ground around Rugby cause cracking?
Much of Warwickshire is Mercia Mudstone and Lias clay, with the Warwickshire coalfield under Nuneaton and Bedworth in the north. Clay soils near trees can shrink in dry summers. Only an investigation can say why a particular building has moved.
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.
Why has the middle of my brick arch dropped?
The centre of an arch usually drops because the bricks have lost their wedge, either because the wall at the sides has moved or the mortar has worn away. A rotting timber hidden behind the arch is another common cause. The keystone slipping is the visible result.
More repairs we carry out in Rugby
- Structural crack repairs
- Structural surveys and crack monitoring
- Floor joist repairs
- Boundary and garden wall repairs
- Retaining wall repairs
Brick arch repairs near Rugby
Request a written, no-obligation price for arch repairs in Rugby; every arch is itemised, along with any work needed on the inside face.