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Concealed HeliBars stabilise listed stone ruins

Client:	Private owner
Location:	Moorend Farm, Bristol
Architects:	Brookes Powell Architect
Engineers:	Foulkes Jackson Fewings Ltd
Main Contractor:	Chappell & Dix
Approved Installer:	TRAC Structural
Reference No:	CS211

The historic ruins of a former farm estate property, which date back to the 19th century, are Grade 2 curtilage listed as they are associated with the principal listed building. These ruins were to be retained and incorporated into a large annexe to a modern barn conversion. The partially collapsed rubble stone walls, up to 4m in height, had suffered from years of weathering and deterioration. Much of the stonework was in very poor condition and covered in vegetation. One area contained ground and first floor fireplaces and another exhibited the remains of two former chimney breasts, all once part of a split level property.

These historic walls had to be sympathetically repaired and reliably stabilised to allow the new building to be constructed within and around them. It was essential that the cost-effective structural repairs caused minimal disruption to the already fragile structures and preserved the existing original materials.

The Helifix Solution

All sections of the remaining stone walling were stabilised using a total of some 400m of 6mm diameter stainless steel HeliBars. Where masonry was loose or missing localised reconstruction was carried out. General repointing was also undertaken.

Mortar was removed from specified mortar beds and the HeliBars bonded into the cut slots using HeliBond cementitious grout. The flexible bars were able to follow any irregularities in the direction of the beds.

The HeliBars were installed at 450mm vertical centres across the chimney breasts with the ends of the bars being returned around the sides and drilled through back wall where they were bonded into the opposite face by 200mm.

Once the concealed installation of the HeliBars was completed the listed ruins were fully stabilised and reinforced. The original materials were retained, structural integrity had been restored and the ancient walls could now been incorporated into the new annexe.