The Challenge
We were contacted in March 2022 by an estate agent in Barnstaple, Devon regarding an issue with a property in Ilfracombe, Devon. Our South West branch went to investigate the issue and found that the gable end of the property was suffering from a lack of lateral restraint which, if left untreated, could lead to the collapse of the wall. The floor joists running perpendicular to the wall provided some friction connection, but a nearby staircase meant that this only spanned half the wall. Further up the wall, where floor joists ran parallel to the wall, there was no restraint at all.
The Solution
We put together a specification utilising Bow Flex lateral restraint ties, connecting the floor joists to the gable, providing a diaphragm and reinstating the structural integrity of the elevation.
The Bow Flex ties are implemented by drilling the ties into the floor joists and stonework with Bar Flex into slots cut into the mortar bed joints. The stainless steel helical material and its bonding agent, Bond Flex, works with the structure rather than against it by allowing some controlled movement.
Installation
The client accepted our quote and we attended site in August 2022, scheduled to complete within two days. Despite the intricacy of the work, which involved installing amongst both water and electrical services, we completed the work within a day.
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