refurbishment

Bulging Walls and Bowing Walls

Bulging walls in period properties are a common defect that are often seen along the gable and flank elevations of a property. This defect is especially common in Edwardian and Victorian properties but is also evident in properties of all ages.

Bowing Wall
Bowing Wall

Bowing walls should not be regarded as ‘just the way it was built’ this is a serious structural defect that will require a structural repair solution in order to prevent further movement or complete failure.

If the bowing in the wall is only at the levels where the floor joists run either into or alongside then this is more than likely to indicate that lateral movement also known as outward movement has occurred.

Lateral Restraint Tie
Lateral Restraint Tie

Lateral movement occurs when there is no connection between the masonry and the floor joists or stair case allowing the masonry to move independently. In order to prevent further outward movement you must provide a connection between the two.

Newman’s utilise Twistfix lateral restraint ties which are an 8mm stainless steel tie which are installed externally through a 12mm hole in the masonry into the floor joist. With a concealed resin fix to the masonry we are able to tie the masonry to the floor joist which restrains any further movement.

Wall Tie Failure Caused Bowing Walls

In modern properties or buildings constructed with a cavity wall then the bowing if not confined to the floor joist levels only could indicate that there are other structural defects such as wall tie failure which will need to be assessed.

Out lateral restraint schemes for bowing walls can be guaranteed for ten years covered by an IGL insurance backed guarantee. Contact us today if your property is showing signs of outward movement.

 

 

 

Author: Jon Newman
Posted:
Categories: Bowing Walls, Crack Diagnosis

Wall Tie Installation

Newman’s have completed a wall tie replacement repair to a property purchased by a private home owner. The home owner became concerned after the purchase as short horizontal cracks were appearing in the outer leaf of the brickwork as well as some of the bricks lifting and rotating.

Wall Tie Installation

Newman’s carried out a wall tie survey using a visual survey and an endoscope survey to determine the condition of the existing wall ties. The wall ties were found to be in a poor state with high levels of corrosion and inadequately spaced.

Current Wall Ties Corroded and Wrongly Spaced

Our specification included the installation of Twistfix’s patented CD 9mm stainless steel Remedial Wall Tie. Installation is a simple process with the helical tie being installed through a 6mm pilot hole.

 

Isolation of the tie is carried out by locating the existing wall tie and encompassing it with a clan sleeve also supplied by Twistifx. With sleeves in place and the ties isolated re-pointing of the cracked masonry can be carried out and tie holes filled with a mortar to match the existing bricks.

Replacing Current Wall Ties

All of our repair schemes are covered by our own guarantee and for consumer protection we are also members of Insured Guarantees Limited enabling us to provide you with an insurance backed guarantee, which for this particular project guarantees the installation for 20 years even if Newman’s are no longer operating.

 

 

 

Author: Jon Newman
Posted:
Categories: Building and Structural Repairs, Current Projects, Wall Ties

Structural repair and structural survey

Newman’s surveyors have carried out  2 interesting structural repair surveys today in London.

The first survey today was to two houses built along the edge a canal in west London. The movement is established as historic settlement causing cracking to the brickwork and altering the load paths resulting I  diagonal cracking above the lintels indicating brick arch lintel failure. In order to restore the failed lintel masonry beams well be installed along with 450mm pinning ties installed vertically through the lintel.

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Brick arch lintel failure

The second survey in London was to identify the cause of cracking to this grade I listed tower in central London. The tower is built from 13 inch solid brick work and had substantial areas of cracking. The cause of cracking is a combination of ground settlement, lintel failure and brick damaged caused by freeze thaw cycle. In order to repair the masonry over 1500 metres of helical bar will need to be installed.

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Cracking on Brickwork

Author: Jon Newman
Posted:
Categories: Building and Structural Repairs, Surveys