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Empty uninhabitable homes structurally repaired and saved

Client:	Herefordshire Housing Ltd
Location:	Hereford
Approved Installer:	Protectahome Ltd
Reference No:	PR215

To avoid the expensive alternative of having to rebuild three uninhabitable end of a terrace properties which had been seriously affected by subsidence damage, the owners, by Herefordshire Housing Ltd, required a viable alternative. Structural repair specialist, Helifix Ltd, was able to devise a comprehensive structural stabilisation scheme which secured the buildings, allowing internal refurbishment to take place and enabling them to be occupied once more.

The Problem

Built on the site of an old gravel pit, which has been back-filled, structural movement to the three properties had caused outward bowing of the front, rear and side elevations with multiple cracking, both externally and internally, coupled with distorted doorways and windows, uneven floors and twisted staircases. Monitoring of the properties had established that movement had ceased so the buildings could then be repaired.

Helifix Solution

Working for the main contractor, Redwell Builders Ltd, the Helifix Approved Installer, Protectahome Ltd, undertook the designed repairs. These included the use of HeliBars bonded into the masonry to form masonry beams around the perimeter of the properties to stabilise the masonry, provide restraint and spread the structural loads. The outer walls were secured to the upper storey floor joists with BowTies, reconnected to internal cross walls with grouted CemTies and multiple cracks were stitched with single HeliBars. Internal repairs were also carried out to stabilise walls, reinstate door headers and stitch cracks.

The principle objective of the cost-effective Helifix scheme was to ensure that all the structural elements of the properties were well connected in order to improve their overall rigidity. Work was completed in just two weeks, avoided rebuilding and enabled the necessary internal building work, such as floor re-levelling, door, window and staircase repairs, to make the properties habitable once again.