The Challenge
The Target Structural South West office was asked by a local structural engineer to investigate some highlighted issues and then to provide a solution to a 2 storey listed Farm House built circa 18th Century which was suffering from cracking. The property forms part of the Bolitho Estate in Cornwall and is the accommodation for tenant farmers on the working farm but had been vacated due to the concerns for the safety of the occupants. A temporary shoring scaffold had been put in place on the suggestion of the structural engineer whilst the causes of the cracking were evaluated and a solution found.
We undertook a survey, which concurred with the structural engineer's findings that the Gable End with a heavy stone chimney was rotating away from the building. The surface water drainage was discovered to be very poor, expelling water from the down pipes into a perimeter land drain that had been installed to the base of the wall. There was was little doubt that this would be causing the ground to soften below the large foundation stones as there was no concrete footing present.
The Solution
Due to the construction of the thick walls with a coursed granite stone Heli Piles were specified internally and externally with reinforced concrete boot pile caps to support the Gable End wall. Around the base of the wall two chords of twin band Bar Flex reinforcement was positioned horizontally by chasing into the mortar joints with Cem Flex ties inserted diagonally between to reinforce and create a masonry beam to allow the Gable End to span between the supporting Heli Pile caps.
To provide additional lateral restraint to the Gable End Type 1 and Type 2 Bow Flex ties installed to to the existing ceiling and floor joists respectively.
Installation
In addition to the Heli Pile & Bar Flex installation the areas disturbed were made good with a local lime based mortar in keeping with the heritage of the property. The onsite team completed the works on time and within budget and the client was provided with a 10 year Warranty.
Published:
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