Bulging and collapsing brickwork

tea and coffee

Have a nice set of stone arches in garden built by the last owner. Age/ weather and ivy have caused some of the arches to gape. Could I fill these in with mortar/cement?

Also top or arches is loose and bulging in places. What are my options here- take the worst of it down, then patch back up?

Photos to follow

tea and coffee

Arch

tea and coffee

Bulging brickwork

listermint

For the arches perhaps drilling holes through and through to the brick behind them anchor cement threaded bar to hold in place and provide more strength.

Then mortar the joints again.

For the tops I'd take them down the few bricks and redo. Obviously have to cut all that ivy back.

10-10-20

I'm just thinking that much of this brickwork is overhead of a garden area, possibly unsupported at either end and perhaps the pillars have no rebar/core. In the first two images, what shifted to cause the gap though? Is the upright/pillar stable and has the arch-work come away, or is there some other movement in play there?
How about a photo from further back showing the whole pillar?
But that ivy may be detrimental to the arches over time, I'd be paying very close attention to it.

tea and coffee

Yes exactly. It's not supported at either end, and is freestanding so there is nothing to fix the arches to, for example. As far as I know the pillars are hollow or as good as hollow and there are no metal bars running through them.

listermint

Strong argument for removal or at least bringing it down past the arches to shoulder height and a rebuild.

tea and coffee

More photos.
Think im going to just fill in the arches with mortar as suggested- repoint it basically.
Then for the top take it down, clean it out and put it back. Maybe strap the top of it?

Thats really cool.
Looks like the there is some repair work done already.
I'd clear the ivy and run a steel band across the top too.should stop the arches spreading .

10-10-20

It's some feature alright, a real charming piece. Best fix it up now before the Appreciation of faux-Romanesque Aqueducts Society list-it, then you'll be in trouble.

10-10-20

Actually, it just occurred to me that the movement seems to be in the area where the soil is highest in the bank behind.
Is there a retaining wall portion to the rear of the feature, or is the soil where you installed the cable resting on the pillars?

tea and coffee

Its resting on the pillars.
The top part is definitely worst because of roots growing in. There was an ash tree growing out the top of it where the bricks are worst.
Don't know about the arches.
The bricks aren't the best either tbh. They are used for stone piers at the boundary wall as well and are flaking and crumbling in parts there as well.
In ways I'm surprised its still standing after 20 odd years.

Kincora2017

To be honest I don’t think this is a DIY job unless you e some experience. It’s too much of a risk in my opinion to have something in that condition right beside your patio where presumably you and your family will be relaxing.
I think you need some professional advice or any competent builder. There’s all sorts of things that could be appropriate but you’d someone who knows what they’re talking about on-site to look at it. First get the vegetation off it then get someone in.

...Ghost...

Don't even touch the vegetation until someone looks at it. You could be disturbing it. Beautiful feature though.

whizbang

Need to water seal the top of the brickwork. Thats really the cause of the top layers lifting.

tea and coffee

Thanks for all the advice. Got a chap in and he took the brick down off the top of arches, plastered it up.. looks grand.