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.
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.
One of our first survey’s of the week to this listed property in the high street of Maidenhead, Windsor.
The brick tower is suffering from lintel failure and the flank elevation has bowed and cracked due to lateral movement following the demolition of the neighboring building.
Lintel Failure
The brick lintels will be reinforced using Twistfix helical bars and Twistfix 450mm CD dryfix pinning ties, the lateral movement will be stabilised using Twistfix lateral restraint ties install in to the existing parallel floor joists along the flank elevation.
Lateral Movement
Following the structural repairs the new development works will continue as planned, to find out how we can help with your building and structural repair needs contact our head office on 0333 444 0154 or email us enquiries@newmans.com
