Customer Stories

Failing Stone Corbel Supports & Distorted Bay Window

The first floor masonry of this 1930s mock Tudor house in Hounslow, West London, was being supported with temporary props. The 2 stone corbels that are vital to support the jettied first floor masonry were failing, leaving the upper storey without adequate support.

Cracks had formed inside and outside the property and the masonry was becoming distorted.

The Structural Problem

Crumbling Support Corbels

Failing Support Corbels

Corbel Failing

Stone Corbel Failing

 

This West London home was in a serious condition when AWT was called in. Temporary props were in place to support the upper storey masonry because the stone supports had failed. The mild steel within the corbel stones had rusted and expanded causing these vital supports to crumble. The knock-on effect of the failing corbels included distortion and cracking around the bay window.

As with many properties that AWT is called in to repair, the property showed signs of previous cosmetic repairs that had failed to address the structural issues.

The Structural Repair Solution

Corbel Structural Repairs

Mock Tudor Corbel Replacement

New Stone Corbels

Corbel Replacement London

Replacement Stone Corbel

 

The corbels – the stone support brackets – were beyond repair. The team at AWT made replacement masonry corbel stones that replicated the shape of the originals. The new corbel stones were manufactured in cast limestone with high-quality stainless steel reinforcing bars to provide a long lasting solution that will resist spalling.

AWT installed additional temporary supports before removing the old corbels stones, checking the surrounding brickwork and making it ready for the replacement stones. Despite the serious nature of the structural defect, the impact on the internal finishes was kept to a minimum. The ground floor front room wall and ceiling, including sections of the fibrous cornice, were cut away in the immediate area of the corbels to accommodate the repair works.

The new supports were then installed, the disturbed brickwork was repointed and the small area of disturbed render was repaired. Internally the areas of disturbed plaster were made good, leaving it ready for redecoration.

Bed joint reinforcement was also employed to restore the structural integrity of the bay window brickwork that had suffered distortion due to the inadequately supported weight of the upper storey masonry.

Action Wall Ties are specialist structural repair contractors with the skills required to replace failing stone corbel supports on period and heritage properties. AWT works along with property owners, architects, project managers and local authorities on large and small projects.

AWT are available in Kent, London, Essex, Surrey and Sussex. To arrange a survey or to discuss project details, please use our contact form, email us or call us on 01227 721 255.