Solution: Brick arch repair & reinforce

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

case study 56e19a59582bd6.78581213 - Bungalows with failing lintels and localised subsidence

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.

case 15 a - Bungalows with failing lintels and localised subsidence

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.

case study 56e19a7884e823.25433311 - 1930s Purpose Built Library

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.

case 18 a - 1930s Purpose Built Library

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.

case 18 b - 1930s Purpose Built Library

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.

case 18 c - 1930s Purpose Built Library

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.

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

case study 56e19c14421019.29613246 - Stabilisation of cracking and dropping brickwork arch

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.

case 38 a - Stabilisation of cracking and dropping brickwork arch

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.

Failing Bay Window Masonry

Failing Bay Window Masonry

This period property in Kent required structural repairs to the bay window masonry. Due to a combination of weathering, ageing and ineffective restraining the brickwork of the bay window was leaning outward. The bay window brickwork was cracked and bulging away from the windows.

case study 598466589ce641.57601627 - Failing Bay Window Masonry

Bay Window Masonry Defects

The front corner of this house in Thanet, Kent had been previously rebuilt by a traditional general builder. This had failed to get to the root cause of the structural problem.

There was visible bulging of the side wall, cracks in the rear wall and outward movement of the higher levels of the front bay. There was also significant cracking in the spandrel brickwork between the lines of windows.

Thanet bay window cracks - Failing Bay Window Masonry

The bay window brickwork columns to the top floor had become unrestrained, de-bonded (see diagram) and bulged outwards. This caused the brickwork arches and the parapet wall above the bay window to also lean outwards. As a result, there was a bow shaped space between the timber window frame and the brickwork columns.

debonded brickwork bulges 1.3 - Failing Bay Window Masonry

Bay Window Masonry Repairs

AWT installed temporary supports and then deployed their AWT designed realigning equipment to restore the brickwork to an upright level. Specialist drilling rigs were used to introduce stainless steel reinforcement into the brickwork. This provided the necessary strength and restrained the brickwork to give a permanent solution to the problem.

Margate bay debonded 1 - Failing Bay Window Masonry

AWT used their specialist equipment to close up the cracks in the brickwork and restore the dropped brick arches. The custom made stainless steel fittings are all concealed within the brickwork to preserve the appearance of the property.

AWT have a great deal of experience in restoring structural integrity to listed and period properties. To maintain the appearance of the property AWT matched the colour and texture of the existing mortar and repointed the disturbed areas.

AWT can provide cost effective structural repairs for a wide range of structural faults including bay window structural problems. We operate not only in Kent but across the whole of London and the South East of England.

Contact us using our contact form, call us on 01227 721 255, or email us.

Bowing and Bulging Wall

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.

case study 5b62f1ba37a455.34142644 - Bowing and Bulging Wall

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.

Bronsbury front view - Bowing and Bulging Wall

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.

case study 5b75866fdaf5d6.47953903 1 - Harrow High School. Corroded Window Arch Bars

The Structural Problem

Harrow cracks - Harrow High School. Corroded Window Arch Bars

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.

Harrow repair - Harrow High School. Corroded Window Arch Bars

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.

logo logo logo logo logo logo