Redditch · Worcestershire
Brick arch repairs in Redditch
Older Redditch houses often carry their window and door heads on brick arches built without any steel at all. When the centre bricks slip, the arch either needs reinforcing in place or rebuilding over a timber former.
Guide price from£400per arch inc VAT
- Postcodes
- B96, B97, B98
- Population
- about 88,000
- Area
- Worcestershire
- Pricing region
- West Midlands
Why does the ground in Worcestershire matter for brick arch repairs?
We cover Redditch and its postcode districts B96, B97, B98, part of Worcestershire, with a population of roughly 88,000. Neighbouring towns we cover: Bromsgrove (5 miles), Droitwich (9 miles) and Solihull (10 miles).
Clay soils are found in parts of Worcestershire. Ground movement here is more often linked to soils, drains and trees than to mining. What you mostly find across Worcestershire: timber-framed and brick houses, Victorian villas in Malvern, and post-war estates in Redditch and Worcester.
Is it time for brick arch repairs? Common signs
- A flat arch that has started to sag into a shallow curve
- The centre bricks of an arch sitting lower than the rest
- A vertical crack running up from the middle of the arch
What should you budget for brick arch repairs in Redditch?
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 |
Repair options we may recommend
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
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 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.
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.
Your brick arch repairs questions
How much will brick arch repairs cost in Redditch?
Guide prices for brick arch repairs in Redditch 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 cover Redditch?
Yes, Redditch is covered, along with postcode districts B96, B97, B98. We also cover nearby Bromsgrove and Droitwich.
Is the ground in Worcestershire prone to subsidence?
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.
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.
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.
Other structural repairs in Redditch
- Wall tie replacement
- Roof structure repairs
- Subsidence repairs
- Bowing wall repairs
- Gable end wall repairs
Brick arch repairs near Redditch
Request a written, no-obligation price for arch repairs in Redditch; every arch is itemised, along with any work needed on the inside face.