Neath · West Glamorgan
Brick arch repairs in Neath
Before repairing a brick arch at a Neath property, we check what sits behind it. A rotting timber lintel on the inner face is a frequent hidden cause, and fixing only the visible arch would leave the real problem in place.
Guide price from£370per arch inc VAT
- Postcodes
- SA10, SA11
- Population
- about 46,000
- Area
- West Glamorgan
- Pricing region
- Wales
What should you know about the ground under Neath?
Postcode districts SA10, SA11 cover Neath, a West Glamorgan town of about 46,000 people. Nearby places we cover include Clydach (4 miles), Swansea (7 miles) and Maesteg (7 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. Across West Glamorgan, most homes are hillside terraces, Victorian villas in Swansea and post-war estates.
What to expect when we carry out brick arch repairs
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.
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.
Is it time for brick arch repairs? Common signs
- Cracks stepping out from the arch ends into the wall
- A flat arch that has started to sag into a shallow curve
- Mortar falling out of the arch joints after frosty weather
What should you budget for brick arch repairs in Neath?
Guide prices below are for homes in Neath, on Wales rates and including VAT. A survey or good photos let us turn them into a fixed written price.
| 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 |
Repair options we may recommend
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
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.
Your brick arch repairs questions
What is the price of brick arch repairs in Neath?
Guide prices for brick arch repairs in Neath 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 Neath?
We do. Neath and the surrounding area are covered, including nearby Clydach and Swansea. A free initial assessment from your photos is the first step.
Does the ground around Neath 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 Neath
- Roof structure repairs
- Resin injection ground stabilisation
- Crack stitching
- Lintel replacement
- Retaining wall repairs
Brick arch repairs near Neath
Our guide-price tool covers arch reinforcement and rebuilds in Neath; add a photo and we can say which applies to yours.