Archive April 2013

Structural Repair Survey, Putney, South West, London

The first survey of the day to investigate cracks to the brickwork on this large Victorian property.

Structural defects found include cracked brickwork, outward movement to two bay windows due to a lack of lateral restraints, cracked and sagging brick arch lintels caused by lintel failure.

Our repair scheme will include lateral restraint repairs and lintel repairs using a combination of Twistfix structural repair products as well as masonry grout injection and ‘re pointing.

To find out more how we can help you with your building and structural repairs contact our head office today on 0333 444 0154 or email us at enquiries@newmans.com

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Structural Repair Survey

Author: Jon Newman
Posted:
Categories: Bowing Walls, Building and Structural Repairs, Lintel Failure, Surveys, Victorian Property Information

Concrete Repairs, London

Concrete Failure

Reinforced concrete buildings have been constructed extensively since the 1960’s within London and the South East of England for residential and commercial buildings. Reinforced concrete is used due to its speed of construction and it strength and fire resistance making it an ideal building material.

Many of London’s tower blocks and tall buildings are built using a concrete frame with brick in fill panels or cladding and have been standing for over 50 years but due to weathering, poor construction etc many of these buildings are suffering from concrete failure.

Concrete Repairs
Concrete Repairs

There are various reasons that cause concrete to fail such as carbonation, corrosion of the reinforcing, honeycombing, lack of concrete cover, stray electrical current causing corrosion to name but a few.

Concrete repairs should only be carried out by suitably trained and experienced tradesmen and at Newman’s we are experienced. We carry out concrete repairs on a regular basis and are able to diagnose concrete failure design a suitable solution and instigate a lasting repair programme.

Concrete Repairs
Concrete Repairs

We use various products and techniques in order to carry out concrete repairs and utilise many hand applied repair mortars that repair failed concrete. Combining mortars and specialist coatings we are able to restore structural integrity of failed concrete by removing the defective concrete and treating any steel and applying new mortars.

Here is one of our recent concrete repair case studies, a 1960’s built commercial premises suffering from cancer of concrete and cracking caused by thermal movement.

Author: Jon Newman
Posted:
Categories: Concrete Repair

Crack Repairs, London

Cracking View at This North London Warehouse

Newman’s were called upon by a commercial property management company who own various trading estates across London.

Many trading estates in London are still Victorian brick built structures that have stood the test of time and are still fully functional. The masonry construction of most of these structures is built using 13 inch solid masonry laid in English bond using lime mortar. This type of construction is a strong bond which will allow slight movement.

We were called out to attend site as a matter of urgency due to the crack rapidly widening and in some places was over 10mm’s wide. We carried out a structural survey free of charge the same day and designed a repair specification that would restore the structural integrity without any major disruption to the business operating in the building.

Crack Repairs, North London
Crack Repairs, North London

We used our own mobile scaffold tower alleviating the need for traditional scaffolding enabling us to be on site just two days after the initial survey.

To repair the crack in the brickwork we installed 14 No masonry beams across the crack which was drilled back into the left and right pillars. This method of crack repair not only crack stitches but distributes the loads imposed and distributes them across the masonry preventing further cracking.

Crack Repairs, North London
Crack Repairs, North London

The parapet wall was secured using 1.5m grout ties which were installed vertically down through the brick work which saved huge costs in a rebuild.

The repair was guaranteed against failure for 10 years. The repairs lasted only 2 days allowing the business to remain fully operational.

Author: Jon Newman
Posted:
Categories: Building and Structural Repairs, Current Projects, Victorian Property Information