Structural damage can come in all different shapes and sizes, so there is a range of solutions and repair techniques that engineers use.
From small cracks to more large-scale fixes, here are some of the different repair techniques that engineers use for structural repairs.
Crack stitching
Cracks can naturally happen over time for many reasons but repairing them before they become too big an issue is important.
Crack stitching is a popular way of repairing the cracks that appear in walls by using crack stitching bars that are grouted across the cracks in the wall to reconnect them and restore the masonry.
Once the bars are in place and the crack has been reconnected, the crack will be concealed using mortar so the building looks good as new.
Anchor socks
Movement and deterioration over time can often cause localised weakness in your property.
In these situations, anchor socks will be used as a solution. These socks expand in any voids and create a bond to rectify any irregular or voided masonry.
Heli beams
When masonry has lost its ability to bear weight, Heli beams may be used to form deep masonry beams that reinforce the structure of a property while redistributing weight loads.
Underpinning
When a property is experiencing severe damage, underpinning is a process that can restore the building’s structure or foundation.
Specially useful in cases of subsidence, underpinning helps to provide additional support to a foundation. During underpinning, an area of ground is excavated and filled with concrete – a process that is repeated across the whole of the building’s foundation.
The load of the building is then transferred from the old foundation to the new one, creating more structural integrity for the property.
Screw piles
Screw piles are circular, hollow steel tubes that act as deep foundations for a property that has structural faults.
Screw piles are cut into the soil at a constant pitch and can be designed to fit a range of different soil types. The pile is typically filled with concrete and will act as a connection between the building and the ground it’s cemented into.
Resin ground injections
Finally, we have resin ground injections, where the foundation of a property is injected with environmentally-friendly resin through small holes.
As the resin flows through the soil, it expands and places pressure on the ground.