Brick Arch failing, cracking, dropping Archives - Page 2 of 2

Bungalows with failing lintels and localised subsidence

Kent Bungalows with failing lintels and localised subsidence

Bungalows with failing lintels and localised subsidence – bed joint reinforcement beaming, fenestration lintel repair and crack stitching

This small development comprised detached purpose-designed bungalows and maisonettes for the elderly. Each block was of a similar design, facing a common central garden. To the front elevation of each block there was a central gabled section accommodating a first floor with a single-storey wing on both sides.

Structural Problems

Signs of distortion and distress with cracked and dropped brick arches, both cracking to the brickwork to the ground and first floor windows and cracking to the brickwork below the ground floor windows were noted.

Discussion

We believed that the movement noted was progressive, due to inadequate lintels. The cracking noted below the ground floor window could be attributed to some localised subsidence. The buildings were to undergo a window replacement programme and it was requested that our proposal included the restraining of the single brick arch above each window.

Structural Repair Solution

AWT completed a remedial scheme providing a viable repair by introducing bed joint reinforcement beaming, fenestration lintel repair and crack stitching.

Bed joint reinforcement beaming: The introduction of two rows of twin 8mm stainless steel corded joint reinforcement, forming a deep masonry beam – as indicated with red double dotted lines on our proposal images.

Fenestration lintel repair: To the underside of the fenestration openings head we drilled for, and injected grouted, 8mm helical stainless steel pins through the brick arch, passing into the line of the deep masonry beam installed within the existing masonry – as indicated with green parallel lines on our proposal images.

Made good the pointing: To the cracking schedule for reinforcement, we raked out the existing cracked mortar and repaired with new coloured sand and cement mortar to approximately 20mm in depth. AWT operatives are highly skilled in traditional building methods and always attempt to match replacement bricks, pointing styles and mortar colour to be sympathetic with the existing building.

Action Wall Ties (AWT) are specialists in masonry reinforcement and repair, providing professional solutions to a wide variety of structural problems in and around the Canterbury Kent area. Contact us on 01227 721 255, or email us.

1930s Purpose Built Library

1930s Public Library

A 1930s purpose built library in Welling, near Dartford, Kent. Corroding support angles to the flat brick soldier course lintel required bed joint reinforcement beaming, fenestration lintel repair, grout tie injection and resin bonded ties and removal of the corroding angles.

The subject building was a substantial purpose built library constructed in the mid-1930s of brick on a concrete foundation.

Structural Problems and Issues

Visible cracking and lifting movement noted to the window openings to the top floor front and two side elevations. A total of 20 windows.

The external brickwork soldier course formed a flat arch above the window openings. The flat arches were built on a 50mm × 50mm mild steel angle that was found to be heavily corroding and delaminating.

Severe corrosion of the embedded mild steel support angles and its resulting expansion had caused severe distress to the adjacent brickwork.

The internal brickwork was being supported by an independent concrete lintel.

Structural Repair Solution

AWT completed a remedial scheme, introducing bed joint reinforcement beaming, fenestration lintel repair, grout tie injection and resin bonded ties.

1. Bed joint reinforcement beaming:
The introduction of two rows of twin cord reinforcement, forming a composite deep masonry beam – as indicated with red double dotted lines on our proposal images.

2. Fenestration lintel repair:
To the underside of the fenestration openings head, we drilled for, and injected, grouted 8mm helical stainless steel pins through the brick arch, passing into the line of the composite deep masonry beam installed within the existing masonry – as indicated with green parallel lines on our proposal images.

3. Resin bonded ties:
Within the area of the beaming we drilled for (wherever possible to the centre of a brick), and resin bonded, new 6mm stainless steel remedial ties (four per square metre) above window openings, then re-pointed disturbed areas only with coloured sand and cement mortar.

After the proposed reinforcing works had been completed the windows were removed (by others) to enable the removal of the mild steel angles and making good of the brickwork.

High Quality Structural Repairs

The gallery below shows the completed structural repairs after 15 years. The repairs are as good as new.

Traditional building methods are only able to provide short term, cosmetic repairs. Our skilled structural repair specialists can identify the underlying causes of structural defects and provide long lasting repair solutions.

Councils, housing associations and other public sector organisations across the South East have turned to AWT for cost effective, long term solutions to a wide range of structural issues.

Library c2 300x225 - 1930s Purpose Built Library

Library C1 300x225 - 1930s Purpose Built Library

Library c3 300x225 - 1930s Purpose Built Library

Library c4 300x225 - 1930s Purpose Built Library

Action Wall Ties (AWT) are specialists in masonry reinforcement and repair across Kent and London, providing professional solutions to a wide variety of structural problems and issues from cracks to wall movement and window sill defects. Contact us on 01227 721 255, or email us.

Stabilisation of cracking and dropping brickwork arch

Stabilisation of cracking and dropping Victorian brickwork arch

Victorian Box sash window brickwork arch defects repairs – bed joint reinforcement beaming, fenestration lintel repair and make good

The subject building was a traditionally built Victorian house on two floors below a pitched tiled roof.

This period property required sympathetic treatment by Action Wall Ties’ specialised staff. Cracking and dropping brickwork arch was stabilised with stainless steel bed joint reinforcement and ties, together with brickwork repairs maintaining the original appearance of the property.

Detailed Case Study:
Dropping and cracked brick arches.

Structural Problems

Action Wall Ties investigated and reported distortion, cracking and dropping of brick arches, along with some cracking to the brickwork above.

Causation

Action Wall Ties reported that the movement noted was believed to be progressive due to a combination of ageing, seasonal moisture, thermal expansion and contraction (i.e. hygrothermal) resulting in ineffective support from the existing arches allowing the brick arch to spread drop and the brickwork above to crack.

Structural Repair Solution

A long-term, cost-effective solution was provided by Action Wall Ties’ highly skilled operatives. The existing appearance of this period property was carefully maintained. The works were designed to minimise the disruption to the building’s occupants and minimise the impact on the environment.

Our remedial scheme involved introducing bed joint reinforcement beaming fenestration lintel repair and install resin bonded ties to reinstate the uniformity of the wall and provide restraint.

Greater London, Essex, Sussex and Kent are all covered by the professional services of Action Wall Ties.

Action Wall Ties (AWT) are specialists in masonry reinforcement and repair, providing professional solutions to a wide variety of structural problems. Contact us on 01227 721 255, or email us.

King’s Cross Station Cintec Sock Anchors

One of London’s King’s Cross station’s main entrance brick arches was sagging and losing structural integrity. AWT was contracted by Network Rail to drill for and install Cintec sock anchors to repair the structural defect.

The subject building was central London’s King’s Cross station. This Grade I listed building’s eastern large spanning brickwork entrance arch was found to be de-bonding.

Action Wall Ties was contracted to drill for, and install, Cintec cementitious grouted sock anchors to reconnect the brickwork.

This entailed drilling 75mm holes into the 225mm arched timber frame and drilling into the brickwork with a 38mm diamond drill vertically to a depth of 1200mm. We then prepared for, supplied and installed cementitious grouted sock anchors with grade 304 stainless steel M12 threaded bar washer and nut.

Action Wall Ties (AWT) are experienced structural repair contractors with the capacity to work on both large and small public sector and infrastructure projects. We can assist with a wide range of structural repairs including the installation of Cintec cementitious grouted sock anchors.

AWT are available for contracts in London, Kent, Essex, Surrey and Sussex. Please contact us via our contact form, by email or call 01227 721 255.

Cross Rail Projects Victorian Connaught Tunnel

Crossrail Projects Victorian Connaught Tunnel

AWT were the chosen contractors for the Crossrail project at the Victorian Connaught Tunnel in central London. Strengthening, pinning and pressure grouting techniques were used for this vital infrastructure project.

The Crossrail project was to breathe new life into the old Connaught Tunnel. It was built by the Victorians but was, at the time of this work, a disused brick-arched structure lying beneath London’s Royal Docks that survived a hit from a bomb during WW2. This was to be the only existing tunnel to be re-used for Crossrail. Works involved the widening, deepening, as well as strengthening, of the existing structure.

Action Wall Ties’ expertise and experience was sought to undertake the proposed strengthening works to the brickwork arches to the approach cutting, and the damaged area of brickwork rings that form the tunnel. This was to be carried out with the introduction of injected grout, grouted ties and pressure grouting areas where the brick work rings had separated, which was believed to be due to bomb damage.

In line with the Crossrail specification to reconnect the brickwork with the temporary supports in place we firstly drilled vertically 20mm holes 1000mm deep and injected cementitious grout, filling any contiguous voids. Once this was set we revisited the grout filled holes and re-drilled to 25mm for, and injected, cementitious grout and 16mm stainless steel bars simultaneously pinning the brickwork rings together.

After the completion of the pinning, in an attempt to fill any voids to complete the reconnection, we drilled a pattern of 16mm holes with the entrance counter drilled to receive injection packers, ready for the pressure grouting injection. With the pre-batched TamCrete MFC grout mixed and holes flushed with water we injected the grout up to 1 bar over injection pressure, until either hydraulic lock or venting grout from adjacent holes is attained.

Finally, AWT made good the entrance holes with concrete repair mortar.

AWT can provide cost effective structural repairs for a wide range of public sector and infrastructure projects. We operate not only in London but across the whole of the South East of England. We have many years of experience working on large projects, liaising with structural engineers and local authorities.

Contact AWT today to book a survey with one of our experienced team of structural repair specialists. Contact us on 01227 721 255, or email us.

Bowing and Bulging Wall

The joint owners of this 4 storey semi-detached Victorian villas (converted into flats) reported visible bulging, dropping brickwork arches to the rear and gable solid brickwork walls and long cracks developed internally.

The Structural Problem

The Action Wall Ties surveyor inspection identified ineffective and inadequate restraining plus spreading of the of the brick arches as the root cause of the problem. This had allowed the main elevation brickwork to bulge outward and brick arches over the doors and windows to spread and drop causing the brickwork above to crack. It also caused long cracks in the internal plaster work of the flats.

This is a common problem with properties of this type and age. As well as damaging the structural integrity of the property it often makes doors and windows difficult to open and close as the frames are warped by the pressure of the sagging brickwork load above.

Restoring Structural Integrity

The introduction of remedial reinforcement to the masonry and lateral restraints was recommended to provide restraint and support to restore the brickwork’s integrity.

Specialist equipment developed by Action Wall Ties was used to install bed joint reinforcing beaming, stainless steel lateral restraints and pins within the structure of the property. This restored the structural integrity of the masonry without the need for any visible restraints.

The cracked mortar was raked out and repaired with new coloured sand, lime and cement mortar that was a match for the existing mortar’s colour and texture.

Action Wall Ties’ specialist knowledge allowed them to restore the property’s structural stability without the need for costly rebuilding work. Their specialist equipment also minimised the disruption for the residents.

Action Wall Ties (AWT) are specialists in masonry reinforcement and repair, providing professional solutions to a wide variety of structural problems including issues with bowing and bulging brickwork in Victorian properties. Contact us on 01227 721 255, email us or use our contact form.

Action Wall Ties serve customers in North West London and the whole South East of England.

Harrow High School. Corroded Window Arch Bars

Harrow High School. Corroded Window Arch Bars.

As can be seen in the photos, there were cracks in both the external brickwork and the internal plaster work around the windows of these school buildings in Harrow, Greater London. In places the external brickwork was crumbling.

The Structural Problem

The brickwork above the windows was visibly lifting and cracking. An inspection by Action Wall Ties quickly identified the cause as corroding mild steel arch bars which were reducing the support from the existing lintel arrangement. This type of fault also results in difficulties with opening and closing windows.

The flat brickwork arches in the building were of differing ages but all were built on mild steel arch bars. As these bars had rusted the resulting ferrous oxide (rust) expanded to several times the thickness of the original metal in turn lifting and cracking the brickwork above. In places the facing brickwork had crumbled to reveal the metalwork.

The Structural Repair Solution

The remedial works were designed to add tensile strength and reinstate the brickwork’s integrity without detracting from the appearance of the building.

The brickwork openings required remedial support and the arch bars needed to be removed to stop any further damage to the building. Bed joint reinforcement and beaming fenestration lintel repair techniques were used to restore the tensile strength of the masonry.

Bricks were carefully removed to allow the cutting and removal of the corroding arch bars. Two rows of twin 8mm stainless steel corded joint reinforcement fixings were installed forming a deep masonry beam. The formation of continuous beams within the existing masonry redistributes the upper storey loads and assists in restraining diagonal cracking and bulging.

Specialist drilling rigs were used to drill for and install helical stainless steel pins through the brick arch and into the line of the deep masonry beam that had been installed within the existing masonry.

Where possible the existing bricks were reused. Replacement bricks were colour matched to blend in with the original brickwork. The cracked mortar was raked out and repaired with new coloured sand and cement mortar to match the existing mortar.

Action Wall Ties serve customers not only in the Harrow area but throughout the South East i.e. Kent, Greater London, Sussex, Surrey and Essex.

Action Wall Ties (AWT) are specialists in masonry reinforcement and repair, providing professional solutions to a wide variety of structural problems including issues with window arches. Contact us on 01227 721 255, use our contact form or email us.

Kent Bungalows with failing lintels and localised subsidence

Bungalows with failing lintels and localised subsidence – bed joint reinforcement beaming, fenestration lintel repair and crack stitching

Structural Problems

Discussion

Structural Repair Solution

1930s Public Library

A 1930s purpose built library in Welling, near Dartford, Kent. Corroding support angles to the flat brick soldier course lintel required bed joint reinforcement beaming, fenestration lintel repair, grout tie injection and resin bonded ties and removal of the corroding angles.

Structural Problems and Issues

Structural Repair Solution

High Quality Structural Repairs

Stabilisation of cracking and dropping Victorian brickwork arch

Victorian Box sash window brickwork arch defects repairs – bed joint reinforcement beaming, fenestration lintel repair and make good

Detailed Case Study: Dropping and cracked brick arches.

Structural Problems

Causation

Structural Repair Solution

King’s Cross Station Cintec Sock Anchors

One of London’s King’s Cross station’s main entrance brick arches was sagging and losing structural integrity. AWT was contracted by Network Rail to drill for and install Cintec sock anchors to repair the structural defect.

Crossrail Projects Victorian Connaught Tunnel

AWT were the chosen contractors for the Crossrail project at the Victorian Connaught Tunnel in central London. Strengthening, pinning and pressure grouting techniques were used for this vital infrastructure project.

Bowing and Bulging Wall

The joint owners of this 4 storey semi-detached Victorian villas (converted into flats) reported visible bulging, dropping brickwork arches to the rear and gable solid brickwork walls and long cracks developed internally.

The Structural Problem

Restoring Structural Integrity

Harrow High School. Corroded Window Arch Bars.

As can be seen in the photos, there were cracks in both the external brickwork and the internal plaster work around the windows of these school buildings in Harrow, Greater London. In places the external brickwork was crumbling.

The Structural Problem

The Structural Repair Solution

Detailed Case Study:
Dropping and cracked brick arches.