superstructure reinforcement after underpinning
The subject building was a substantial Victorian traditionally built semi-detached domestic residence constructed over three floors (including a lower ground floor) below a pitched tiled roof.

Problem 

Front square bay

Signs of distortion and distress, with localised cracked and dropped brick arches to first and second floor levels of the square bay, were noted.

Left side elevation


Significant cracking was noted to the external brickwork running from and to the ground, first and second floor window openings. The brick arch was missing from the first floor window and distortion cracking and dropping were noted to the ground and second floor arches. The first and second floor window openings had temporary supports.

Causation
The movement noted was attributed to subsidence. Downward movement had allowed the brick arch to spread and drop and the brickwork to crack. The downward movement had been addressed by a recently completed underpinning scheme.

Solution

1. Bed joint reinforcement: We introduced two rows of twin cord reinforcement, forming a deep masonry beam – As indicated with red double dotted lines on our proposal images.

2. 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.

3. Bay window repair: To form a beam and reconnect the bay window elevational brickwork, we diamond-drilled a 20mm hole through each elevation, chased into the main elevation and injected grouted 8mm helical bars – As indicated with Green horizontal parallel lines on our proposal images.



4. Crack stitching: To stitch localised cracks we introduced single 8mm stainless steel corded joint reinforcement – As indicated with red single dotted lines on our proposal images.

5. Wall ties to de-bonding brickwork: To brickwork within the beamed area and arches, where brickwork was believed to be de-bonding, we drilled for and resin bonded 6mm stainless steel remedial ties and re-pointed disturbed areas with sand and cement mixture.

    . 
    Front entrance brickwork archway bridge

    Signs of distortion and distress with localised cracking were noted to the external brickwork to the front entrance archway bridge, along with cracked voussoirs and the dropping of the brick arch and outward movement.


     6. Resin bonded ties: To stabilise the brickwork archway bridge, we introduced truss ties. To form the truss we drilled a 14mm hole at 45 degrees to the required depth, opened the entrance hole to 18mm, resin bonded 10mm stainless steel threaded rods, drilled a horizontal 14mm hole to the required depth, inserted the 10mm stainless steel threaded rods, fixed nuts and washers, resin bonded to the inner wall, tightened nuts to both sides and resin bonded to the outer brickwork.





    7. Making good and pointing: We raked out the existing 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. Contact us on 01227 721 255, or email us.




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