Bed Joint Reinforcement BJR Beaming Archives - Page 6 of 6

Bulging and Cracking Ornate Bay Window

This Victorian/Edwardian terraced home in Lewisham SE4 was suffering with structural defects that were causing cracks in the decorative work around the bay windows as well as bowing brickwork.

The Structural Problem

The beautiful decorative moulding around the bay windows of this terraced home in South East London was cracking. Even more worryingly, the brickwork of the bay window was visibly bulging and rotating away from the main part of the house. Inside the house there were cracks appearing in the internal party wall.

Action Wall Ties were called in to find a permanent solution to the structural issues while preserving the period features of the property.

The Structural Repair Solution

The AWT’s survey team diagnosed inadequate restraint of the bay window and a point loading issue with the party wall. Reinforcement of the masonry and a redistribution of the load on the party wall was required.

AWT have an arsenal of techniques at their disposal that are not available to traditional builders. This allows them to repair structural defects without rebuilding works.

Following a thorough survey, the following techniques were selected to restore the structural integrity:

Bed Joint Reinforcement Beaming
Crack Stitching
Grout Tie Injection
Lateral Restraints
Concrete and Brickwork Repairs

The specialist tools and equipment developed by AWT allows them to repair structural defects without compromising the look of a period property such as this.

A twin diamond bladed machine with attached vacuum was used for precision drilling prior to the installation of rows of twin 8mm stainless steel corded joint reinforcements. This helped to redistribute the weight of the upper storey to those parts of the supporting structure best able to carry them. It also assisted in restraining diagonal cracking and bulging.

8mm stainless steel lateral restraints screwed into the floor joists’ bresummer beam and resin bonded to the masonry provided further lateral restraint.

Localised cracks in the brickwork were stitched together using stainless steel fixings embedded out of sight within the brickwork.

Any patches of defective masonry were cut away and the areas were repaired using Flexcrete – a specialist repair substrate.

The finishing touches included colour matching any replacement bricks and ensuring the pointing style and mortar mixture matched the existing texture and colour.

AWT’s specialist skills allowed these serious structural faults to be repaired quickly and economically without damaging the character of the period features.

Action Wall Ties (AWT) are specialists in masonry reinforcement and repair. We provide professional solutions to a wide variety of structural problems for home owners in Lewisham and the whole of London, Kent, Surrey and Sussex. Contact us on 01227 721 255, email us or use our contact form.

Failing Bressummer Lintel Due to Brown Rot

This Victorian/Edwardian terraced property with a render finish in South East London was suffering from advanced brown rot in the wooden bay window lintel and floor joists.

The Structural Problem

Brown Rot had taken hold in the horizontal load bearing timber beam in the front bay window of this home in the Hither Green, SE13 area of London. The rot had also spread to the adjacent cantilevered floor joists.

The beam and joists were no longer strong enough to support the weight of the building. The bay window area of the property was becoming unstable. The brickwork was cracking and bulging.

If structural repairs are sought early enough or if the structural defect is localised, as in this case, AWTs specialist repair techniques may allow for repairs without removing the render. The small disturbed areas of render can then be made good with a concrete repair mortar system.

The Structural Repair Solution

Action Wall Ties acted quickly to firstly stabilise the structure to prevent further movement.

Before installing temporary supports and starting to uncover the Bressummer beam AWT installed Bed Joint Reinforcement Beaming both externally and internally. Box beams were also installed.

Bed Joint Reinforcement Beaming requires precision drilling and injection of stainless steel bars and Cementitious grout into the brickwork. No fixings are visible once the work is complete. Re-pointing with colour matched sand and cement mortar gives a neat finish.

This vital work redistributed the upper storey loads to those parts of the supporting structure which were best able to carry them. It also assisted in restraining any further diagonal cracking and bulging of the brickwork.

When the temporary supports were in place the bay window beam and rotten floor joist were replaced. With the structural integrity restored, this property can now continue to be a home for many years to come.

AWT can provide cost-effective structural repairs for a wide range of structural faults including rotting wooden beams. AWT can advise on structural repairs to properties with render, pebble dash and spar dash finishes. We operate not only in SE London but across the whole of London and the South East of England.

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.

Distorted Flank Wall with Difficult Access

This traditionally built mixed retail and domestic mid-terraced property in Greenwich, SE10, had visible bulging of the side wall.

The Structural Problem

The side wall brickwork of this property in was visibly bulging outwards. Movement was also noted within the property with some visible cracks.

The property located in South East London had retail space on the ground floor with domestic residences on the upper floors. Access to the flank wall was hindered by an abutting pitched slate roof which made access difficult.

Action Wall Ties needed to devise a structural repair scheme that would provide a lasting repair with minimal impact on the retail space, the residential space and the neighbouring properties.

An alternative to long, disruptive and costly rebuilding work was required.

The Structural Repair Solution

AWT needed to ameliorate the masonry defects and add tensile strength to reinstating the brickwork’s integrity. A three pronged strategy was used:

Bed Joint Reinforcement Beaming
Lateral restraints
Brickwork repairs and infill

AWT used carefully designed scaffolding to access the defective masonry while taking care to protect the slate roof of the neighbouring property.

The wall contained an arched window opening that has been boarded over internally. The old sash window was removed and the opening was bricked up with colour matched bricks. Any damaged bricks were replaced.

Internally the installation of timber noggins and lateral restraints provided restraint of the lateral movement of the masonry. The stainless steel lateral restraints were screwed directly into the timber studs and then resin bonded to the masonry to provide a permanent solution to the lateral movement.

AWT used their precision diamond drilling equipment to install rows of twin cord reinforcement, forming a deep masonry beam. This redistributes the weight of the upper storeys. It also acts as a restraint to diagonal cracking and bulging.

Repointing the disturbed mortar with colour matched mortar provided the finishing touch.

AWT provide cost effective masonry repairs to customers throughout London and the South East.

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.