This small development comprised detached purpose designed bungalows and maisonettes for the elderly below pitched tiled roofs. 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.
Problem
Signs of distortion and distress with cracked and dropped brick arches,
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.
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 listed above, 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.