Warning Signs of Bowing Walls
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Warning Signs of Bowing Walls: What Should You Look For?

Bowing walls are a serious structural issue that can lead to significant damage to your property if left untreated. It's important to be able to identify the warning signs of bowing walls so that you can take action to prevent further damage.

What is a bowing wall?

A bowing wall is a wall that is leaning away from the building. This can be caused by a number of factors, including:

  • Foundation problems: If the foundation of your home is settling unevenly, it can cause the walls to bow.
  • Water damage: Water damage can weaken the structural integrity of your walls and cause them to bow.
  • Poor construction: If your home is not built properly, the walls may be more susceptible to bowing.

Warning signs of bowing walls

There are several warning signs to look out for if you’re concerned that your walls may be bowing. These include:

  • Cracks in the walls: Cracks in the walls are a common sign of bowing. The cracks may be small or large, and they may be horizontal, vertical, or diagonal.
  • Doors and windows that stick: If your doors and windows are sticking, it could be a sign that the walls are bowing.
  • Gaps between the walls and ceiling: If you see gaps between the walls and ceiling, it could be a sign that the walls are bowing.
  • Visible bowing: In some cases, you may be able to see the bowing of the walls with your own eyes.

What to do if you think your walls are bowing:

If you think your walls may be bowing, it is important to act immediately. You should contact a professional structural engineer to assess the damage and recommend a course of action.

A structural engineer will be able to determine the cause of the bowing and recommend the best way to repair it. In some cases, the repair may be as simple as replacing a few bricks or boards. In other cases, it may be necessary to underpin the foundation or replace the entire wall.

If you’d like to talk in further detail about your walls, our team at London Structural Repairs would be happy to chat.

Preventing bowing walls

There are steps you can take to prevent your walls from bowing. These include:

  • Regularly inspect your home for signs of damage
  • Keep your gutters and downspouts clean and clear
  • Make sure your foundation is properly graded to allow water to drain away from your home
  • Consider installing a sump pump to remove water from your basement

By taking these steps, you can help to protect your home from the damaging effects of bowing walls.

Lime Mortar Pointing Expert
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Lime Mortar Pointing Experts

London Structural Repairs are specialised Lime Mortar Pointing Experts.

What you may not realise about building work is that along with the more modern approaches to construction, there are also traditional methods that were used to build and maintain properties. One particular method that we will have seen in the past and still see now is lime mortar pointing. So, what is lime pointing and why has it been used in building work over the years?

Why was lime used?

Traditional mass-masonry walls, such as what we see in pre 1919 homes would have very much worked on the basis that any moisture that enters the wall, has the chance to escape as easily as possible. One material that has known to be able to do this the best is lime. This is because they have an interconnected pore structure, which means that the water vapour and water can travel with ease and make its way back out.

This is compared to those walls made of cement, which are more closed and will trap water within the wall and make it much harder for the water to escape. Of course, in modern times, homes are designed in such a way that concrete is fine to be used for the construction, however, those homes that pre-date 1919 are going to have lime mortar already in them and therefore any repairs need to be carried out using lime-pointing.

Why might you need lime mortar pointing Expert repairs?

There are a number of reasons why you might need to book in for lime pointing Expert repairs on your property. However there are two main ones that we see. The first one is that the lime pointing that was originally put in place has decayed over time and the time has come for it to be replaced. Mortar can decay over time due to weathering or sometimes due to poor maintenance. You can often find that blocked gutters or overflow pipes can cause damage to the masonry work and then require repairs.
You may also need to arrange for repairs if the masonry within the property has already been re-pointed, with the use of a cement based mortar which is often the case in London.

If you live in a period property then you know that you are going to need to make sure that any repair work that you have carried out on it, fits in with the traditional style and design. This means that you are going to be on the hunt for an expert who understands what it takes to best utilise some of these traditional materials and methods for the best interests of the building.

We are lime mortar pointing Experts, so if you live in an older property and want to ensure that you protect the look and charm of the building, then why not get in touch with us?

 

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Diagnosing Building Cracks
By admin crack repairs • London Structural Repairs • • • • • 0 Comments

Diagnosing Building Cracks

Diagnosing Building Cracks

Discovering a crack in a building is never something that you are going to want to discover, they are not only unsightly (and will require covering) they are also a sign that there is a bigger problem. You don’t only need to fix the crack itself, but, at the same time you need to look into why it has happened and fix that. 

Many cracks that develop in a property will be superficial and they shouldn’t cause too much of a  problem. However, this isn’t always the case and there can be times when a crack is severe and needs urgent and necessary repair work to be carried out, especially before it gets any worse. 

Where can you usually find these cracks?

The reason that a crack will usually appear in a property is because there has been a build up of stress within the structure. The crack is where the weakness is and will be a build up and a release of the stress. They can happen anywhere in your home. 

Diagnosing Building Cracks can be daunting, so why not give us a call to take care of it for you.

Why might they be happening?

As we have already discussed, the main reason that a crack will appear is because there is some element of stress on a property. However, we can dig down deeper into this to identify actual causes of the stress.

The main ones are:

  • Damp damage
  • Decaying or crushed internal timber that is important to the properties structure 
  • Tree roots 
  • Adjacent walls becoming unstable 
  • A lack of good foundation
  • Changes in temperature
  • Issues caused by wind
  • Road traffic vibrations
  • Damaged drains

 

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How can you tell if a crack is severe or not?

The main way that a crack is diagnosed and its severity identified is by looking at the width of the crack. A crack will usually be split into 5 different groups, each of which will require a different approach or solution to be taken.

  • A negligible crack- this type of crack will be a hairline crack and will have a width that is less than a millimetre. They are not very nice to look at, but they are not too severe and can mostly be treated simply by redecorating the area. 
  • A slight crack- Next up is a slight crack, and this is usually due to structural movement over time. This crack will be between 1mm and 5mm wide and will often be fixed by filling any open voids and then redecorating the interior. The exterior of the property will also need to be repointed too. 
  • A moderate crack- If the crack measures between 5mm and 15mm then it is called as a moderate crack and building work is going to be needed. They will be able to identify the cause of the crack as well as the best way to treat it. There is more likely to be a complex reason behind these types of cracks and they will likely affect a wider area.
  • A severe crack- One thing that you are not going to want to hear is that you have a severe crack in your wall. These will be as big as 35mm wide and there is going to be the need to carry our extensive structural repair work. Usually requiring the replacement of the affected sections within the building. You will often find that a severe crack will also have smaller cracks around them.
  • A very severe crack- Finally you have the highest level that can be given to a crack. If the crack is over 25mm then it fits in this bracket and it means that there is severe structural damage to the property and that there is going to be major repair work. This could be partial or complete rebuilding with structural underpinning to help with any instability too. 

The main thing to keep in mind when it comes to cracks in your home is that no matter how small they seem; you need to make sure that you are getting them looked at by a professional, so that you won’t end up with a much bigger problem in the future. 

Contact London Structural Repairs to Diagnosing Building Cracks and to repair them for you for a hassle free professional service.

 

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subsidence in london
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Subsidence in London the common causes

Subsidence in London is an extremely common problem that haunts millions of home owners in London. With significant damages to the foundation of the structure as one of its most common consequences, subsidence can be caused by a number of different reasons. 

Interested in learning more about the natural and man-made causes of subsidence? Read on to find out as we tell you some of the most common causes of subsidence and how our professionals at London Structural Repairs can help mitigate the risk associated with it. 

Natural Causes of Subsidence in London

While there are plenty of different natural causes of subsidence that results in damage to houses in London, the most common culprit remains the expansion of cohesive soils. Clay and other cohesive soils are known to expand and shrink based on their moisture content. This affects the structures that are built on them. Since the weather conditions of London vary significantly, it goes without saying that the composition of these cohesive soils can also change drastically, leaving structures damaged. 

Soil decomposition and washing away of soils is another extremely common natural cause of subsidence in London. Even though non-cohesive soils are not prone to shrinkage and expansion like their cohesive counterparts, they are still susceptible to being washed away causing problems to buildings that may be built on them. What’s more, the decomposition of certain natural soils can cause movement of the ground, resulting in significant problems. 

Other Causes of Subsidence in London

In addition to the natural causes mentioned above, other factors can be involved in subsidence in London as well.  Leaky drains are a common culprit, causing the ground to soften considerably resulting in subsidence. If the problem remains undetected or unresolved for long, the ground may even be washed away, resulting in damaged foundations in buildings. 

Construction work in nearby areas and heavy traffic are also to blame for subsidence in London. Since both construction work and dense traffic can cause the ground to move constantly for extended periods of time, it is common for problems like subsidence to occur. 

While subsidence can cause numerous problems including cracked walls and weakened structures, you’ll be glad to know that most damages are reversible. By hiring the services of a professional service like London Structural Repairs, you will not only be able to assess the damage done, but experts in the field will also be able to present you with a variety of solutions that you can choose from. 

Interested in learning more about the available options to repair damages caused by subsidence? Give London Structural Repairs a call at 020 8936 7699 to find out how we can help with your problem.

 

 

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