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Hidden repairs retain stone cottage aesthetics

Client:	Private homeowner
Location:	Pitlochry, Perthshire
Approved Installer:	Anderson Specialist Contracting
Reference No:	CS194

The front elevation of this 19th century two storey detached property, constructed from local stone with random rubble-filled walls some 600mm thick, was suffering from lateral axial movement of up to 60mm.

The resulting cracking was most noticeable at the junction of the internal cross wall in the reveal of the lower right hand window, both internally and externally. Movement was not considered to be progressive but the wall required stabilising to prevent it from becoming so.

The repairs to this Grade B listed property needed to be extremely sympathetic, leaving the building unaltered and retaining its aesthetic appeal.

The Helifix Solution

Helifix devised a suitable repair scheme to stabilise and secure the front elevation’s outer skin. Using a combination of stainless steel products and concealed installation techniques, the building’s original materials and appearance were retained.

â— To restrain the bowing front wall eight BowTie HDs were installed, two either side of the lintels of both ground floor windows. Clearance holes were core-drilled through the wall and the BowTies inserted and power-driven through the first two floor joists before being bonded into the outer leaf stonework.

â— Core holes were drilled across the wall for 100 CemTies which were installed simultaneously with HeliBond cementitious grout to provided fully bonded ties that secured the outer skin to the inner leaf.

â— Limited crack stitching was undertaken with 6mm HeliBars bonded into channelled-out mortar beds, which also aided the lateral restraint and stabilisation.

The repairs were completed quickly, efficiently and economically. Rebuilding and external restraints were avoided to restore full structural integrity and, once the retained drilling cores were replaced, there was virtually no sign of the completed repair work.