Stourport-on-Severn · Worcestershire
Brick arch repairs in Stourport-on-Severn
Flat soldier arches on Stourport-on-Severn houses tend to sag once a hidden bar rusts or an old window frame is replaced. Reinforcing them with stainless bars in the joints above is often enough, without taking the arch down.
Guide price from£400per arch inc VAT
- Postcodes
- DY13
- Population
- about 21,000
- Area
- Worcestershire
- Pricing region
- West Midlands
What should you know about the ground under Stourport-on-Severn?
We cover Stourport-on-Severn and its postcode districts DY13, part of Worcestershire, with a population of roughly 21,000. Neighbouring towns we cover: Kidderminster (4 miles), Droitwich (7 miles) and Bromsgrove (9 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.
What should you budget for brick arch repairs in Stourport-on-Severn?
Guide prices below are for homes in Stourport-on-Severn, 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 |
Repair options we may recommend
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
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.
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.
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.
Is it time for brick arch repairs? Common signs
- Gaps opening between arch bricks at the top or bottom edge
- Mortar falling out of the arch joints after frosty weather
- Cracks stepping out from the arch ends into the wall
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 should I budget for brick arch repairs in Stourport-on-Severn?
Guide prices for brick arch repairs in Stourport-on-Severn 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 Stourport-on-Severn?
Yes. We take enquiries from across Stourport-on-Severn, including DY13, and from nearby places such as Kidderminster and Droitwich. Send photos for a free initial view and we will tell you what happens next.
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.
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.
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 Stourport-on-Severn
Brick arch repairs near Stourport-on-Severn
Request a written, no-obligation price for arch repairs in Stourport-on-Severn; every arch is itemised, along with any work needed on the inside face.