bowing wall

Retaining Walls, Their Failure and your Legal Risk

Retaining Walls and Your Legal Risk

Retaining walls are built to retain soil to unnatural slopes separating two elevations. Often they fall into a state of neglect and structural defects occur putting the retaining structure into jeopardy of collapse.

There are various techniques used to build a retaining wall and the three common techniques used are called Gravity, Cantilevered and Sheet Piled. There are various other techniques used such as gabion basket, and buttressed walls.

With changes in the earth pressure on the retaining wall, changes in the water table and areas of structural defect retaining walls tend to fail. The damage caused by a failed retaining wall is severe and can lead to injuries to persons within the vicinity causing them to be crushed. It can also be damaging to property as often the retaining wall is retaining soil that the property is built on forming an integral part of the structures foundation strength. A slip in the soil can cause your property to subside. And you may be liable for legal action if you have failed to maintain your retaining wall.

How to identify a Structural Defects to a Retaining Wall?

Cracking and bowing are the main defects that will be evident when a retaining wall fails. This can lead to the wall to collapse completely due to the loss of structural integrity. Retaining walls rely on their ability to act as one structure and with a fracture this will prevent the structure from retaining the soil.

Cracking On Wall

Before cracking and bowing of the wall are evident you should check the condition regularly of the wall after the winter months or periods of heavy rainfall. It is important to check that the pointing is still strong and not defective as this will allow the penetration of moisture. It is also important to check the condition of the face of the brick any spalled bricks should be replaced as again this will allow the penetration of moisture which can cause a structural defect.

How Can My Retaining Wall Be Repaired?

In the early stages of a failed retaining wall it is possible to use helical bar combined with high strength grout as incorporated in the Twistfix System, which Newman’s are approved installers and designers of. With this method it is possible to install lengths of helical bar to create masonry beams which will allow the structure to act as one panel again.

In cases of severe outward movement we employ various techniques of restraining the wall by introducing platypus ground anchors that tie the structure to the ground using high tension cables and pattress plates preventing further outward movement. In instances where the loads are extreme piles have been driven in to the ground to resist the outward movement.

If your retaining wall is suffering structural defects ensure you contact Newman’s for a free survey and repair specification.

 

After Restraint Repairs
After Restraint Repairs

Author: Jon Newman
Posted:
Categories: Bowing Walls, Building and Structural Repairs, Retaining Walls

Lateral Restraint Ties & Bed Joint Reinforcement, Solve Another Bow & More Lintel Failure!

At Newman’s we utilise modern methods of masonry repair to restore bowing walls and lintel failure to name but a few structural defects.

Our specialist services were called upon by a building surveyor managing the refurbishment of a Victorian built 1890’s semi detached house in Croydon, South London.

Bowing Building London

After completing our survey it was discovered that there was extensive outward movement to the front and gable elevations and with the loft conversion in progress the additional stress to the masonry was sure to cause severe movement.

Bed Joint Reinforcement

Over 30 Lateral restraint ties were used on the gable elevation alone into the first floor and the new loft floor to restrain the outward movement combined with bed joint reinforcement ensuring there would be no further outward movement.

Lateral Restraint Ties Installed

With the bed joint reinforcement being installed front the front elevation wrapped around the gable and into the rear elevation the lintel failure was repaired and the bowing restrained.

Author: Jon Newman
Posted:
Categories: Bowing Walls, Building and Structural Repairs, Lintel Failure

Bowing Walls!

Help my building is bowing!

That phrase is commonly heard within the Newman’s office, being a common problem to Victorian and Edwardian built properties we are able to offer modern methods of structural repair to prevent and restrain outward movement.

Bowing House in Need of Restraint

Bowing walls are caused by a lack of lateral restraint, which allows the masonry panels to move independently often outwards severely weakening the structural integrity of the property.

This is often evident at the levels of the masonry where the floor joists run in accordance to the floor and ceiling joists. Tying into the floor and ceiling joists is essential in repairing and restraining the movement and traditional tie bars which are visible on many period properties are no longer required.

Lateral Restraint Ties

Newman’s utilise the Twistfix Heliforce system providing lateral restraint by inserting 1.0m, 1.5m or 2.0m ties into the floor and ceiling joists with a resin fix into the brick work providing an almost invisible repair once aesthetic brick repairs have been carried out. Incorporating lateral restraint ties with helical bar creating deep masonry beams and replacement wall ties remove the need for expensive intrusive and dangerous remove and rebuild techniques that may have been previously used.

Author: Jon Newman
Posted:
Categories: Bowing Walls