Gorseinon · West Glamorgan
Brick arch repairs in Gorseinon
A dropped keystone over a front door is a familiar sight on older streets, in Gorseinon 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£370per arch inc VAT
- Postcodes
- SA4
- Population
- about 21,000
- Area
- West Glamorgan
- Pricing region
- Wales
What should you know about the ground under Gorseinon?
We cover Gorseinon and its postcode districts SA4, part of West Glamorgan, with a population of roughly 21,000. We also take enquiries from nearby Llanelli (5 miles), Swansea (5 miles) and Clydach (6 miles).
Clay soils are found in parts of West Glamorgan. Historic coal workings are recorded beneath parts of West Glamorgan, and a coal mining search is worth checking where movement is unexplained. Typical buildings in West Glamorgan: Hillside terraces, Victorian villas in Swansea and post-war estates.
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.
Choose reinforce or rebuild
We recommend reinforcement where the arch is sound and only slightly displaced, and a rebuild where it has dropped badly or bricks are loose. If the wall beside the opening is moving, that is dealt with first.
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.
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 Gorseinon
For Gorseinon we use Wales 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. | £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
Rules for brick arch repairs in Wales
In Wales, small like-for-like repairs do not usually need approval, but work that alters or strengthens the structure needs building control under the Welsh Building Regulations, and the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 can apply to shared walls.
Frequently asked questions
What is the price of brick arch repairs in Gorseinon?
Guide prices for brick arch repairs in Gorseinon start from about £370 per arch, including VAT, on Wales 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 Gorseinon?
Yes. We take enquiries from across Gorseinon, including SA4, and from nearby places such as Llanelli and Swansea. Send photos for a free initial view and we will tell you what happens next.
Does the ground around Gorseinon cause cracking?
Swansea and Neath Port Talbot lie on the South Wales coalfield, with historic workings, tips and steep valley sides, and softer estuarine ground around the docks. 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.
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.
More repairs we carry out in Gorseinon
- Retaining wall repairs
- Wall tie replacement
- Structural crack repairs
- Extension pulling away repairs
- Bay window subsidence repairs
Brick arch repairs near Gorseinon
If bricks in an arch at your Gorseinon property are loose, photograph them from a safe distance and send them over for advice.