Malvern · Worcestershire
Brick arch repairs in Malvern
Rebuilding an arch in Malvern 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£400per arch inc VAT
- Postcodes
- WR13, WR14
- Population
- about 37,000
- Area
- Worcestershire
- Pricing region
- West Midlands
What should you know about the ground under Malvern?
Malvern, Worcestershire: about 37,000 residents across postcode districts WR13, WR14. Nearby, we also cover Worcester (7 miles), Tewkesbury (11 miles) and Droitwich (13 miles).
Parts of Worcestershire have clay that can shrink near trees in dry spells. Ground movement here is more often linked to soils, drains and trees than to mining. Across Worcestershire, most homes are timber-framed and brick houses, Victorian villas in Malvern, and post-war estates in Redditch and Worcester.
From first photo to finished repair
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.
Symptoms that point to brick arch repairs
- A flat arch that has started to sag into a shallow curve
- A vertical crack running up from the middle of the arch
- Cracks stepping out from the arch ends into the wall
Guide prices for brick arch repairs in Malvern
The ranges below reflect typical West Midlands costs for brick arch repairs, including VAT. Scaffold, access and making good can push a job to the top of the range.
| 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 |
Methods for 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
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
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.
Frequently asked questions
How much should I budget for brick arch repairs in Malvern?
Guide prices for brick arch repairs in Malvern 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.
Can you survey a property in Malvern?
We do. Malvern and the surrounding area are covered, including nearby Worcester and Tewkesbury. A free initial assessment from your photos is the first step.
Why do houses in Worcestershire crack?
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.
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.
Can a dropped arch be repaired without rebuilding it?
Yes, if the drop is small and the brickwork is in good condition. Bars bonded into the joints above can take the load off the arch and hold it in place. If the bricks are loose or the arch has dropped badly, rebuilding is the more reliable repair.
Related work in Malvern
Brick arch repairs near Malvern
Send a straight-on photo of the dropped or cracked arch at your Malvern home, and we will offer a free view on whether it needs reinforcing or rebuilding.