STITCHING:
Structural type cracks in structures are often simply filled in with general crack fillers by contractors just to re-appear after a short while allowing water seepage into walls.
Although not guaranteed a crack repair procedure “Stitching” has been found to be the most effective in repairing structural type cracks.
PROCEDURE:
Depending on the crack the plaster is stripped off the wall back to bare brick in a 50cm band along a crack exposing the crack. Holes are then drilled at intervals on either side of the crack and specially bent 12mm Tungsten reinforcing bars inserted into the holes under force. Square wedges are then forced directly into and along the crack before cleaning out any loose particles and Injecting a Hybrid silicone into the crack to prevent any future water penetration into the walls.
The crack is further bridged with Menlith (expanded metal), fixed to the wall with steel fasteners and the area re-plastered with a strong plaster mix.
UNDERPINNING:
Underpinning is often used in supporting the foundation of a structure. This involves removing soil at specific points from under the existing foundation of a structure, slightly lifting the foundation with Hydraulic jacks and casting a specially reinforced concrete block in under the existing foundation as support of the existing foundation.
