Droitwich · Worcestershire
Brick arch repairs in Droitwich
A dropped keystone over a front door is a familiar sight on older streets, in Droitwich 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
- WR9
- Population
- about 24,000
- Area
- Worcestershire
- Pricing region
- West Midlands
Is Worcestershire prone to ground movement?
Droitwich, Worcestershire: about 24,000 residents across postcode districts WR9. Neighbouring towns we cover: Bromsgrove (6 miles), Worcester (6 miles) and Stourport-on-Severn (7 miles).
Worcestershire has a mix of ground, with clay in some places and firmer rock in others. Ground movement here is more often linked to soils, drains and trees than to mining. Typical buildings in Worcestershire: Timber-framed and brick houses, Victorian villas in Malvern, and post-war estates in Redditch and Worcester.
Brick arch repairs prices in Droitwich
Guide prices below are for homes in Droitwich, on West Midlands 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. | £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
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
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?
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.
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
- Gaps opening between arch bricks at the top or bottom edge
- A flat arch that has started to sag into a shallow curve
- The centre bricks of an arch sitting lower than the rest
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 Droitwich
What is the price of brick arch repairs in Droitwich?
Guide prices for brick arch repairs in Droitwich 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 Droitwich?
We do. Droitwich and the surrounding area are covered, including nearby Bromsgrove and Worcester. A free initial assessment from your photos is the first step.
Does the ground around Droitwich cause cracking?
Worcestershire is largely Mercia Mudstone (locally called marl) and Lias clay, with the Malvern Hills in the west. The clays can shrink in dry summers, especially near large trees. 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.
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.
More repairs we carry out in Droitwich
- Lintel replacement
- Crack stitching
- Structural surveys and crack monitoring
- Resin injection ground stabilisation
- Subsidence insurance claim repairs
Brick arch repairs near Droitwich
If bricks in an arch at your Droitwich property are loose, photograph them from a safe distance and send them over for advice.