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SockFix anchors provide ideal lateral restraint

Client:	Private homeowner
Location:	St Columb, Cornwall
Approved Installer:	R M Construction
Reference No:	CS190

Built with 600mm thick rubble-filled stone walls, this two storey detached property was suffering from lateral movement of the flank wall, which had caused cracking at the corner junction. This was due to parallel joists being present at first floor level, resulting in inadequate lateral restraint.

A non-disruptive means of providing sufficient restraint and halting further movement was needed. In addition, sympathetic masonry repairs were required to stitch cracks and consolidate the rubble-filled walls.

The Helifix Solution

Using a combination of grout filled sock anchors and special purpose stainless steel products, Helifix devised a reliable cost effective repair scheme using concealed installation techniques.

â— To provide lateral restraint across the width of the flank wall, 12 SockFix anchors, each 1500mm long, were installed through the wall and the first two floor joists. The diamond-drilled stone cores from their installation holes were retained and replaced afterwards to create an almost invisible repair. Once the SockFix anchors had been inserted into their clearance holes they were pumped full of grout to expand the sock, filling any voids and forming a strong mechanical connection with the stone wall, the rubble fill and the floor joists.

â— To secure and reinforce the stonework, some 60m of stainless steel HeliBars were bonded into channelled-out mortar beds across the flank wall at first floor level, using HeliBond cementitious grout, and returned along the front and rear elevations.

â— Within the area of reinforced stonework, over 60 fully grouted CemTies, 8mm x 550mm, were installed in a staggered pattern at 450mm centres, to consolidate the rubble-filled wall by securing the inner and outer leaves. Additional HeliBars were used to stitch cracks at the corner of the flank wall.

Once the concealed repairs were completed the building was left fully stabilised but visibly unaltered. The work caused minimal disruption, with only minor areas of floorboards needing to be lifted, and all repairs were completed in just two weeks.