Rebuilding a brick arch over a sash window - DIYable ?

[johnpound]

Hello. I was hoping that I might be given some pointers on how to tackle repairing a very shallow brick arch on my 1900 terrace. All my windows have these shallow arches and I can see several have been repaired before (and one replaced with a lintel). So, this arch is on the first floor, is over a sash window, seems to consist of 1/2 bricks and the mortar has deteriorated at the arch and at all the bricks above - so it is unstable. My plan was the start at the roof and remove bricks down to the arch, then the arch. Clean the bricks of old mortar and rebuild. I was thinking if making a thick (i.e. several sheets) plywood curve and somehow affix it to the window frame and then cement a new arch first, then let that set for a day, then lay the bricks above up to the roof. I think I wood attach a piece of timber under the roof batons to support the ends, but I *think* the trusses are carrying most of the load anyway.

I have a scaffold tower for doing the gutters so access is OK. Does this sound like a reasonable plan, is there anything I'm missing, is there some disaster in the making I am not aware of?!?!

Many thanks for reading.

 

[noseall]

Hello. I was hoping that I might be given some pointers on how to tackle repairing a very shallow brick arch on my 1900 terrace. All my windows have these shallow arches and I can see several have been repaired before (and one replaced with a lintel). So, this arch is on the first floor, is over a sash window, seems to consist of 1/2 bricks and the mortar has deteriorated at the arch and at all the bricks above - so it is unstable. My plan was the start at the roof and remove bricks down to the arch, then the arch. Clean the bricks of old mortar and rebuild. I was thinking if making a thick (i.e. several sheets) plywood curve and somehow affix it to the window frame and then cement a new arch first, then let that set for a day, then lay the bricks above up to the roof. I think I wood attach a piece of timber under the roof batons to support the ends, but I *think* the trusses are carrying most of the load anyway.

I have a scaffold tower for doing the gutters so access is OK. Does this sound like a reasonable plan, is there anything I'm missing, is there some disaster in the making I am not aware of?!?!

Many thanks for reading.

It's not the best place for an arch. It apperas that the there has been some movement (arch resisisting masonry shifted sideways) and that has allowed the masonry to drop. I'd re-build using a solid (twin) wall inverted T lintel. You can still give the appearance of headers when you re-build, but a shallow arch is not really suitable there. There is not enough buttressing to the left of the window.

 

[stuart45]

You can also get a Catnic segmental arch lintel but they aren't cheap.

 

[mrrusty]

You can also get a Catnic segmental arch lintel but they aren't cheap.

something else to add to the "I didn't know that" pile. I see you can get quoted for any specific dimensions! No immediate use, but thanks

 

[stuart45]

They do solve a few issues with arch construction as well. The load is sent directly more vertically down to the foundations, meaning less stress on the abutments. It takes away the need for the chippies to make the arch centres. Also arches in cavity walls have always been more difficult to form trays for weather proofing properly. The Catnic does this job as well. On site these advantages probably pay for the extra labour cost.

 

[catlad]

Easier to do what they have done on the main house window.