Shoreham-by-Sea · West Sussex
Brick arch repairs in Shoreham-by-Sea
Rebuilding an arch in Shoreham-by-Sea 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£450per arch inc VAT
- Postcodes
- BN42, BN43
- Population
- about 19,000
- Area
- West Sussex
- Pricing region
- South East
How do local ground conditions affect brick arch repairs in Shoreham-by-Sea?
Shoreham-by-Sea (BN42, BN43) has around 19,000 residents and sits in West Sussex. Nearby, we also cover Lancing (2 miles), Worthing (5 miles) and Brighton (6 miles).
Shrinkable clay is widespread in West Sussex. Ground movement here is more often linked to soils, drains and trees than to mining. What you mostly find across West Sussex: Wealden cottages, 1930s semis and bungalows on the coast, and new-town estates in Crawley.
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
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 during brick arch repairs, step by step?
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.
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.
What to look for before calling about brick arch repairs
- A vertical crack running up from the middle of the arch
- Mortar falling out of the arch joints after frosty weather
- Cracks stepping out from the arch ends into the wall
Brick arch repairs prices in Shoreham-by-Sea
Prices in Shoreham-by-Sea 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.
Questions about brick arch repairs in Shoreham-by-Sea
How much should I budget for brick arch repairs in Shoreham-by-Sea?
Guide prices for brick arch repairs in Shoreham-by-Sea 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 Shoreham-by-Sea?
Yes. We take enquiries from across Shoreham-by-Sea, including BN42, BN43, and from nearby places such as Lancing and Worthing. Send photos for a free initial view and we will tell you what happens next.
Why do houses in West Sussex crack?
North West Sussex around Crawley and Horsham sits on Weald Clay, the South Downs are chalk, and the coastal plain has brickearth and gravels. The Weald Clay is prone to shrink-swell movement near trees. Only an investigation can say why a particular building has moved.
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.
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.
Related work in Shoreham-by-Sea
- Bowing wall repairs
- Boundary and garden wall repairs
- Subsidence insurance claim repairs
- Bay window subsidence repairs
- Roof structure repairs
Brick arch repairs near Shoreham-by-Sea
Have several dropped arches along one Shoreham-by-Sea elevation? We can price them together and suggest the order that makes sense.