Worthing · West Sussex
Brick arch repairs in Worthing
Rebuilding an arch in Worthing 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
- BN11, BN12, BN13, BN14
- Population
- about 110,000
- Area
- West Sussex
- Pricing region
- South East
Is West Sussex prone to ground movement?
Worthing (BN11, BN12, BN13, BN14) has around 110,000 residents and sits in West Sussex. Neighbouring towns we cover: Lancing (2 miles), Shoreham-by-Sea (5 miles) and Littlehampton (7 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.
What to look for before calling about brick arch repairs
- The centre bricks of an arch sitting lower than the rest
- A flat arch that has started to sag into a shallow curve
- Cracks stepping out from the arch ends into the wall
Brick arch repairs prices in Worthing
For Worthing we use South East 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. | £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 |
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
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
What happens during brick arch repairs, step by step?
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.
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.
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 Worthing
How much should I budget for brick arch repairs in Worthing?
Guide prices for brick arch repairs in Worthing 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 Worthing?
Yes. We take enquiries from across Worthing, including BN11, BN12, BN13, BN14, and from nearby places such as Lancing and Shoreham-by-Sea. 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.
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.
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 Worthing
- Chimney stack repairs
- Resin injection ground stabilisation
- Wall tie replacement
- Retaining wall repairs
- Lintel replacement
Brick arch repairs near Worthing
Send a straight-on photo of the dropped or cracked arch at your Worthing home, and we will offer a free view on whether it needs reinforcing or rebuilding.