Failing Victorian stone lintel – removal reinforced and made good and reinstated
The subject building was a traditionally built Victorian house.
There was some visible cracking and dropping of a stone lintel and support brickwork.
On inspection the supporting stone lintel was found to be fractured, resulting in the distortion and dropping of brickwork above it.
There had been previous attempts at repairs and it appeared to be supported with remedial steel pipework.
Stone Lintel Repair Solution
Our client’s paramount concern was to maintain the building’s original fabric and appearance.
We provided temporary support for the brickwork to enable the removal of the existing stone lintel and remedial steel pipe work while leaving the brickwork above and internal brickwork in place.
To reinforce and repair the original stone lintel, we firstly set in line and bonded the stone lintel sections together then cut two chases into the rear of the lintel and grouted in stainless steel reinforcing bars.
Action Wall Ties services are available to client’s in the South east i.e. in London, Surrey, Kent, Sussex & in Essex
Action Wall Ties (AWT) are specialists in cracked stone lintel repairs providing professional solutions to a wide variety of structural problems in Kent and London (Most of the South East is covered by our specialist teams). Contact us on 01227 721 255, or email us.
The Hanger Lane Underpass in North West London is part of London’s North Circular Road. This vital part of the road infrastructure required specialist structural repairs because the parapets, which have very large copings, were becoming detached. Transport for London contracted AWT to install remedial fixings and stabilise the underpass.
The Structural Issues
Action Wall Ties’ expertise was sought to undertake the securing of large concrete copings to the Hanger Lane underpass retaining walls. The specification, provided by Transport for London, was to introduce a pattern of large stainless steel fixings to be drilled down into the concrete of the wall.
This presented a series of obstacles to overcome. Firstly, to enable the proposed drilling we had to initially design equipment and methods to enable the efficient drilling for the pattern of fixings. Secondly, we had to be self-sufficient for the delivery of water and electricity supply to the working place on truck mounted working platforms, together with all that is involved in working on the closure of a major road at night.
The Structural Repair Solution
To enable the efficient drilling Action Wall Ties designed and manufactured four working saddles that clamped over the head of the wall, each supporting two diamond core drilling rigs set at the correct spacings with connections for water, electricity and lighting.
To provide water to the diamond drills we mounted a large water tank and pumps with a diesel generator supplying power into a large Sprinter van, together with other mobile generators which provided the services required for the proposed works.
Works
With the access platforms in place the AWT designed manufactured drilling saddles were lifted and clamped into place and connected to the services (as listed above). Adopting wet diamond drilling techniques a pattern of 20mm holes 400mm deep were drilled. Each saddle was set in place to drill two holes simultaneously, and a second set by sliding the rig forward before resetting the saddle, deploying four maned drilling saddles to meet with the program.
The pre-drilled holes were cleaned before we resin bonded 16mm stainless steel grip bars, and made good the disturbed areas with coloured concrete repair mortar.
AWT can provide cost effective structural repairs for a wide range of structural faults including large infrastructure projects. We operate not only in London but across the whole of the South East of England. We have experience working on the road and rail network including work for Transport for London, many London borough councils and public sector organisations across the South East.
Action Wall Ties (AWT) are specialist structural repair contractors for large and small projects. Please get in touch to discuss your requirements. Contact us on 01227 721 255, or email us.
This low rise apartment block in the North West of London had severe distortion in 2 of the large support lintels. These failing wooden lintels were supporting the stone corbels and brickwork above. There was also deterioration of the brickwork piers including cracked and spalled bricks and cracks in the plinth render.
Failing Timber Lintels in Occupied Apartment Block
The remedial work on entrance hall of this London Soho low rise apartment block was carried out with the residents still in situ. The work was carefully planned to ensure the safety and security of the residents.
Temporary support was provided by specialist props and bracing. This required removal of a section of the stone cornice with a specialist diamond chain saw. The stone cornice and timber beams were then removed.
Installation of New Timber Beams
The remedial work included:
Installation of new timber beams
Realignment of the stone cornice & making good the disturbed brickwork
Spalled bricks were resurfaced
Defective pointing was replaced with colour matched mortar
Damaged render on the plinths was cut away and made good with a specialist concrete repair mortar system.
AWT provided a long lasting and cost effective structural repair with the minimum of inconvenience to the residents. The buildings facade was left ready for decoration to restore it to its former glory.
AWT provide structural repairs for low rise blocks of flats and period properties in London plus the whole of Essex, Kent, Sussex and Surrey.
Contact AWT today to discuss how our structural repair skills could save you time and money in the long term compared to cosmetic repairs by a traditional builder. To book a time for one of our surveyors to visit your property, call us today on 01227 721255, email us at enquiries@actionwallties.co.uk or use our contact form to get in touch.
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.
