Retaining walls are a vital structure within the infrastructure of London. They are everywhere and a large number of them are well over 100 years old. Victorian built retaining walls are usually constructed using 13 inch solid brick work construction with a soft lime mortar and usually they haven’t been inspected for signs of failure or disrepair until they are at a critical stage of failure.
At Newman Building Solutions we are regularly required to design a suitable structural stabilisation programme that will restrain further outward movement or collapse as well as retain the original charm of the structure.
Newman Building Solutions specialise in retaining wall restraint and use various modern methods of structural repair such as the Twistfix helical system creating masonry beams and crack stitches tying the masonry together. In some instances ground anchors are required to restrain the outward movement. Twistfix helical systems can be guaranteed for up to 25 years and ground anchor solutions can be guaranteed for up to 99 years.
We like to restore these engineering marvels and relish the opportunity to conserve the original structure. Visit our case study here to view the Twistfix system in use to restore and restrain a Victorian built retaining wall.
Newman Building Solutions were contacted by a private home owner in South East London who had noticed that there was substantial cracking to the bay window of this late victorian property.
We carried out an extensive survey of the bay window and the front elevation and it was apparent that there had been brick arch lintel failure and out ward movement requiring lateral restraint.
With the introduction of the Twistfix heliforce system we were able to restore the structural integrity of the masonry. Twin 6mm helical rods were inserted into the bed joint crating masonry beams tying the bay window back to the main structure and distributing structural loads. Twistfix pinning ties were inserted vertically through the lintel tying them to the masonry above. We used 8mm lateral restraint ties installed through the external masonry tying into the floor joists.
Cracking to bay windows is a common defect to period properties that should not be ignored. Traditional costly, disruptive and time consuming methods should be avoided when you can utilise modern methods of masonry repair.
