Customer Stories

Leaning Brick Portico Columns & Dropping Arches

The attractive red brick portico on this period property in Catford, London was in danger of collapse. Repairs had been attempted by filling the wide cracks with extra mortar. This not only failed to solve the issue, but it was also unsightly.

Preserve your property’s period features and protect its market value.

The Structural Problem

When we surveyed this period property in South East London, we found significant movement in the brick columns. Some of the columns had shifted by as much as 3.5cm from vertical. The portico masonry was pulling away from the main elevation and the brick arches were spreading and dropping.

Leaning Portico Columns

Dropping Portico Arch

Ineffective Structural Repairs

Cracking Portico Arch

Leaning Portico Columns

 

Previous re-pointing and filling of the opening bed joints had failed to cure the underlying structural problem, so the issue had worsened to the point of near collapse.

The structural issues were caused by a combination of surface water damage and a lack of strength in the portico structure. The brick/stone columns were unable to carry the load of the brickwork and roof above them.

The Structural Solution

AWT were able to use its specially designed equipment, including precision diamond drilling rigs, to realign and reinforce the masonry without damaging the period features. Unlike a slow, messy rebuilding project, our repair work is fast, cost-effective, permanent and completed with minimal disturbance to residents.

The structural repair works included:

• Installation of temporary supports
• Realigning brickwork with AWT-designed equipment
• Precision diamond drilling using AWT-designed equipment
• Injecting grouted pins & resin bonded ties
• Resurface damaged bricks where possible
• Replace bricks where necessary with carefully matched replacements
• Reconnect walls with grouted ties
• Rebuilding columns incorporating strengthening steel fixings
• Brickwork arch repair
• Lateral restraints
• Stonework repairs

AWT has the specialist skills and equipment to repair and preserve your property’s period features, thereby protecting its market value.

Our skilled staff use traditional methods and the original bricks where possible when repairing brickwork. The mortar style and colour, and replacement bricks if required, are matched to the existing masonry.

Simply rebuilding the columns would not have solved the underlying structural problem: the brick columns were not strong enough to support the weight of the structure above. AWT installed strengthening fixings within the structure to ensure a permanent repair.

We work with home owners, insurance companies, structural engineers, loss adjusters, architects and project managers to find economical and effective solutions. We operate across Kent, London and the whole South East of England.

To book a time for one of our surveyors to visit your property or to discuss your requirements, call us today on 01227 721 255, email us at enquiries@actionwallties.co.uk or use our contact form to get in touch.