Masonry may deteriorate, crack, delaminate and fail for a variety of reasons. Many of these problems can be overcome by using various combinations of Helifix remedial ties and masonry reinforcement products and techniques.

The illustration shows a typical two storey Victorian property of solid wall construction with a later cavity wall extension. Masonry repair strategies using Helifix products have proven to be fully effective in virtually every type of masonry structure from medieval churches to modern tower blocks, from bridges and tunnels to all forms of housing.

They provide secure, lasting connections in all forms of brick, blocks, concrete, stone and timber as well as traditional local building materials such as Devon Cob, Wytchert and Norfolk Clay Lump.

Highlighted are some of the most commonly occurring structural faults that affect every type of commercial and residential property of all ages and construction. In conjunction with the Helibeam System other products are able to remedy specific problems.

These are installed externally in the vast majority of situations leaving buildings visibly unimpaired and causing negligible disruption to their occupants.

Clearly there are other situations which are not shown here such as failed parapet walls, separated cornices, blown render and many more besides.

Using various combinations of Helifix ties, fixings and reinforcing rods virtually any situation can be dealt with so do not hesitate to call us if you have a particular problem which is not covered here.

 

1
 

Reconnecting Party Walls with External Walls

CemTies are installed simultaneously with HeliBond MM2 grout into angled clearance holes drilled, to the required depth, through the external wall and into the party wall.
REFERENCE: CemTie.

 

3
 

Repair of Bay Windows

Twin HeliBars are bonded into a predetermined cut slot around the bay above the window with the ends embedded in the front elevation. BowTies are driven into the joist ends via clearance holes in the masonry and low level cracks are stitched with single HeliBars.
REFERENCE: BowTie.

 

5
 

Reconnecting Internal Walls with External Walls

Predetermined slots on the internal wall are channelled out to the specified length right into the corner. Angled holes of 10mm are drilled from the corner into the external wall. Single lengths of HeliBar are bent to shape with the angled end being PolyPlus resin bonded into the hole and the remainder HeliBond grouted into the internal wall.
REFERENCE: Helibeam System.

 

7
 

Repairing Cracks near Corners and Openings

Where cracks are less than 500mm from an external corner or an opening, at least 100mm should be bent round the corner and bonded into the return wall or bent and fixed into the reveal, avoiding any DPC membrane.
REFERENCE: Crack Stitching.

 

9
 

Creating Masonry Beams

The Helibeam System uses parallel lengths of HeliBar reinforcing bonded into predetermined cut slots (normally the mortar beds) with HeliBond grout to form deep masonry beams which distribute the building loads. A- shows a beam resisting the horizontal displacement of a bowing wall. Due to the internal stairwell BowTies cannot be used as there are no joists at this point.
B- shows a beam resisting vertical loads to prevent building subsidence.
REFERENCE: Helibeam System, HeliBond Grout.

 

11
 

Creating Movement Joints

A 400mm HeliBar is installed across the joint, as with cracks, but is only bonded at one end. The other end is allowed to move freely by inserting it into a sleeve which is then bonded into the masonry.
REFERENCE: Movement Joints.

 

13
 

Replacing cavity wall ties

DryFix wall ties are power driven directly into both leaves, via a small pilot hole of around 6mm diameter. OR RetroTies are driven into a 4.5mm pilot hole in the far leaf, via a clearance hole in the near leaf into which they are bonded with PolyPlus.
OR ResiTies are resin bonded into a 10mm hole in both leaves.
REFERENCE: DryFix, RetroTie, ResiTie, Technical Data.
2
  Stabilising Bowed Walls into Joist Ends
BowTies are inserted through a clearance hole in the masonry and power driven directly into the joist end before bonding with PolyPlus resin into the masonry.
REFERENCE: BowTie.

 

4
 

Repairing Separated Masonry

CemTies and HeliBond grout are installed into clearance holes drilled through the near leaf and at least 75mm into the far leaf. The density of the ties will depend upon the degree of separation, the material, the cause and the condition of the masonry overall.
REFERENCE: CemTie.

 

6
 

Repairing Brick Arch Lintels

Parallel lengths of HeliBar rod are bonded into the specified cut slots directly above the existing lintel. Angled CemTies or DryFix ties are installed through the lintel and into the masonry above the lower HeliBars.
REFERENCE: Helibeam System, CemTie, DryFix.

 

8
 

Stabilising Bowed Walls into Joist Sides

BowTie HDs are inserted through clearance holes in the masonry and are power-driven through the first and second joist (and third, if required) before the outer end is bonded into the masonry with PolyPlus resin.
REFERENCE: BowTie HD.

 

10
 

Crack Stitching

Lengths of HeliBar extending 500mm either side of the crack are bonded into cut slots, normally the mortar beds, with HeliBond or PolyPlus resin.
REFERENCE: Crack Stitching.

 

12
 

Repairing or creating flat arch lintels

Parallel lengths of HeliBar, are bonded into the specified cut slots above the existing lintel.
REFERENCE: Helibeam System.

 

14
 

Ceiling Joist Pinning

RetroTie fixings are driven at an angle through the joist and into the masonry, via a small pilot hole, and the projecting end is hammered over.
REFERENCE: RetroTie.