The decent homes scheme is still running and Newman’s work with many main contractors on window replacement schemes and External Wall Insulation contracts in order to repair masonry and allow the safe upgrade of properties.
Bed Joint Reinforcement
Often with window replacement schemes it is discovered that lintels are defective and in some instances have even collapsed upon removal of windows. We carry out lintel surveys on behalf of the council or the main contractor and specify repair programmes that will not hold up the schedule and will restore the structural integrity of the brickwork saving time and money on costly lintel rebuilds.
Lintel Failure
Wall tie failure is another common structural defect within social housing due to many properties being built within the 1930’s to 1960’s using iron fishtail ties which have corroded and failed or in some instances simply a lack of wall ties have been installed during the construction phase. Only specialist contractors like us should be used for wall tie replacement schemes.
Wall Tie Failure
Often these structural defects only come to light whilst other trades are on site requiring us to have a fast turnaround, we can normally attend site within 24 hours and will design a repair strategy on site using our in house surveyors.
If you are currently working on any social housing schemes that require our services please do not hesitate to contact us right away.
Diagonal cracks above window openings and door openings are common structural defects that show signs of movement which will need to be rectified.
Diagonal Cracking Above Opening
Diagonal stepped cracking often indicates that the lintel that supports the masonry above the opening has failed. There are many types of lintels available and in use such as brick arch and soldier course lintels commonly found in period properties. Newer lintels are normally steel Catnic type lintels which can also fail showing signs of diagonal cracking above the opening.
Diagonal Cracking Above Opening
In many instances the threat of collapse is over looked and simply ignored, in some cases cracks are raked out and repointed but if further movement was to occur the already compromised lintel could in theory collapse bringing the masonry above it crashing down as well.
Diagonal Cracking Above Opening
Lintel Failure often occurs upon the removal of hardwood windows that were originally designed to bear a substantial load without distorting and are replaced with standard uPVC windows which are non-load bearing allowing the lintel to drop or bow causing sagging of the lintel which is shown by the diagonal stepped cracking.
Traditional methods are to remove the lintel and rebuild it, this is an intrusive method of repair and a slow process typically taking around a day to properly remove and replace a lintel.
Lintels can now be repaired using the Twistfix Helical System by using their Bed Joint Reinforcement which effectively creates a new lintel within the existing masonry by remove the mortar within two bed joints above the lintel and inserting helical rods encompassed in grout to create a load bearing lintel which spreads the structural loads across the length of the bars preventing further sagging of the lintel.
Bed Joint Reinforcement Repairing Lintels
With the patented Twistfix 9mm CD helical tie we are able to install 450mm long ties vertically through the masonry in the lintel and pin it into the masonry above. This method is a vast improvement on previous pinning methods which often required 16mm holes drilled through the lintel. We can now install these ties through just 6 or 7mm pilot holes.
This type of repair is a fast and effective method of repair which has been tried and tested with BRE approval. Newman’s can guarantee this type of repair for ten years as we are a member of IGL insurance which covers the consumer in the event that we cease trading.
Across England there are hundreds of bridges and viaducts constructed from brick and random stone usually built using brick arch spandrels, built well over 100 years ago, having not been designed to meet today’s standards with volume and weight of traffic that we have on the roads and railways today many are in need of reinforcement and repair in order to maintain their use.
Bridge Repairs
Many of these structures have fallen into a state of disrepair and must be reinforced in order to keep them open and serving their purpose. Traditional reinforcement is costly and can lead to major road and rail closures and diversions but Newman’s are able to use modern methods of repair to reinforce these structures.
Bridge Reinforcement
Utilising the Twistfix system we are able to reinforce delaminated spandrels enabling them to withstand the weights and speeds that road and rail vehicles impose in this modern world.
By installing helical bar to the underside of the spandrel and installing grout ties through the spandrel we are able to provide an engineered reinforcement solution that enables the route to stay open and improves the load capacity of these bridges and viaducts. Click here to view the Twistfix method video.
Much of the pointing has failed on the large structures and removal and replacement is a delicate process. Newman’s skilled technicians are able to reinstate mortar that’s loose or missing combined with our structural reinforcement scheme we are able to provide a last guaranteed solution.
