Discovering structural flaws like bowed walls and cracks on your property can be unsettling and stressful. The insurance company is often the first point of contact, and their frequent use of terms like “subsidence” and “heave” can exacerbate feelings of worry about disruption, expense, and the possibility of foundation repairs.
While it is true that movement is the cause of cracks in walls, subsidence is not the only reason, and underpinning is not always necessary. Other reasons include failure of wall ties, seasonal expansion and contraction, insufficient lateral restraint, and frequently, replacement windows and doors. The removal or addition of large vegetation can cause changes in moisture levels, as can blocked or broken drainage systems.

Fortunately, structural repair methods using stainless steel helical bar, such as crack stitching, masonry beaming, and remedial wall ties help to avoid the cost and disruption of traditional methods such as take down and repair.

Helical Bar

Helical bar, often referred to as helifix or helibar, is stainless steel wire that is twisted and has a deep and continuous helix which provides a high fin profile. The fin profile provides substantially more surface area for the purpose made encapsulation grout than traditional, steel rebar. Being made from stainless steel, helical bar doesn’t rust and therefore will not cause the mortar joints to eventually blow like steel can. The bar has high tensile strength and as well as reconnecting the masonry on eith side of the crack, it redistributes the structural loads across its width.

The Repair Process

Helical Bar is used in multiple applications. In general, horizontal slots are cut into the mortar joint between courses of brick or stone. A layer of specially developed grout is applied to the rear of the slot. The grout is specially formulated for encapsulating and bonding stainless steel helical bar to masonry for structural repair applications. Lengths of helical bar are then inserted deep into the slot with at least 500mm of bar either side of the crack. A further layer of grout is then applied to fill the gap.

Helical bar will inserted in multiple courses, depending on the length of the crack.

Invisible Repair

Steadfast supply two types of helical bar encapsulation grout. One is cementitious and the other lime based. Both are available in a range of 28 colours are 4 different grades. This means the grout can be colour and texture matched to the original mortar. Not only can this provide an invisible repair, but it also saves time and money by negating the need to repoint.

Crack repair using helical bar

Invisible repair of cracked wall

Steadfast Elite

All products are available in our Shop, and if you need someone to carry out a repair, we can help through our Steadfast Elite network of specialist contractors.

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This enables us to provide realistic, hands-on training. From straight forward crack stitching, brick tinting and brick repair to more technical issues such as lateral restraint, lintel repair and ornate stone repair.

Offering this additional service to our clients gives them the opportunity to further develop their existing skills and to build new ones. This increases the number of services that they are able to offer to their own clients.

Recent Courses

We recently hosted a team of Surface Medics. The guys from Surface Medics are regular users of our Total Wall Care® Brick Repair and Brick Tinting products and our Lime Restoration Mortar range of stone repair. Along with learning some new techniques for the use of these products, they were particularly interested in learning more about our HelicalBar Structural Repair Products. Following a very full and successful day, the guys will be returning for further training and shadowing a team of Steadfast installers on site to further develop their skills whilst they work their way to becoming Certified Installers.

We have also recently hosted a tailored, four-day, Next Generation Methods of Masonry & Structural Repair training workshop for a joint group from Goldhawk Restoration and Stress UK. Both teams are already skilled in the use of helical bar techniques for structural reinforcement, but were keen to develop their skills for residential properties and were particularly interested in our Lime Restoration lime-based Historical Grout for the encapsulation of helical bar. The guys were very impressed with both the performance of the product and the fact that it negates the need for repointing because it is available in a wide range of colours and grades to match the existing mortar.

The guys from Goldhawk and Stress also spent a large part of their time with us learning about the Total Wall Care range of products. As well as repairing and tinting bricks, they learned techniques for replicating brick and stone facades using the product like a render and cutting, carving, and tinting the profile. A great deal was learned during the workshop and the guys were particularly impressed with the workability of the repair mortars.

Bespoke Training

Our training workshops can be tailored to your specific needs so please contact us to discuss your requirements. For an overview, please visit our training page HERE

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Windsor Reclamation have over 30 years’ experience in the imperial and reclaimed brick industry. They stock a wide range of bricks common to London and the South East, they also work with a select few demolition companies to ensure the quality of the bricks are the best available. Reclaimed bricks are cleaned, palleted and ready for use.

Pallet of aged bricks

Steadfast work closely with Windsor Reclamation to ensure matching brick tints and soot washes are to client’s specification. Occasionally, they are unable to find an exact match for the customers requirement. In such circumstances bricks that match the correct profile and surface texture are re-coloured and aged using Total Wall Care products.

We were kindly offered the opportunity to meet with Gavin and his team on site. Good quality, reclaimed bricks are in short supply and, when they are available, they can be expensive. Gavin and his team have therefore built a showcase wall for their clients to see for themselves how new bricks, pre-aged with Soot Wash are extremely effective and can be considerably cheaper to purchase. Windsor Reclamation are distributing these bricks all over the country.

Wall of aged bricks alongside wall of new bricks

Gavin and his team have now become Registered Installers and are reaping the many benefits.

As well as receiving stepped discounts and leads, did you know that our Registered Installers are also eligible to promote their services via our website, newsletters and various social media channels?

Our aim is to work in partnership with Windsor Reclamation, offer technical support, assist with specifications, marketing and stepped discounts. In return Gavin has provided us with on site photographs and updates when using our Total Wall Care range.

If you feel your company would benefit from becoming a Registered Installer or you would like further information, please call us on 0333 210 1410 or email admin@steadfastspl.com

We look forward to hearing from you.

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This is the commercial construction industry’s first, largest and most important annual international event for concrete and masonry professionals across the globe

The show is the largest concrete and masonry show in the world with over 1500 exhibitors and 700,000 sq feet of indoor and outdoor demonstrations and exhibits.

Over the past few years Steadfast have been visiting the show to research the latest, new and innovative concrete, masonry repair and restoration products to bring to the UK market. Our aim at Steadfast is to bring you the correct product for your project and with help from multi-national chemists, architects, engineers and manufacturers, we strive to provide you the best and most fit for purpose restoration products on the market.

There is an ever-growing trend to produce quicker cure times for products like our Polyac Rapid range of decorative, waterproof coating products which cure in 30 minutes, and our Betonfix Monolite quick cure concrete repair mortars as well matching colours and textures of reclaimed bricks and historic mortar colours.

Our Total Wall Care® range of products is ever expanding and 2020 will see the introduction of new products and services which are being finalised at our South West facility at present so watch this space.

After the show, the MD likes to have some recovery time to digest the show and all the meetings that comes with it and, as it falls on his anniversary, the MD and his wife can enjoy a nice break!

Happy Anniversary Guys!

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The ship had no freight aboard but did have 18 crew. She began to drag anchor in gale force winds gusting at up to 74mph at around 3am and grounded two hours later.

Although the ship re-floated on the next high water, she was later found to have damage to a fuel tank and to her hull.

So, what has this got to do with Steadfast you may well ask?
Well the clue is in the title of this article.

Due to debts relating to the ship and its state of disrepair, the ship was seized and then sold to the highest bidder for scrap. However, the ship needed to be made seaworthy so it can be removed for demolition.

That job was taken on by our client Seawide Services Limited. Along with other repairs they were tasked with executing temporary repairs to a number of large sections of the hull.
Steadfast have supplied a large quantity of T-Fix, our extremely versatile epoxy repair putty. Once thoroughly mixed, the two-part putty is perfect for marine repair because not only does it act as a water stop and set solid, but it can also be applied underwater!

Seawide’s specialist repair crew use diving equipment to dive down to the hull to carry out the repairs. Although it is quite difficult to see what has been done and where, you can clearly see the large grey areas of T-Fix in these photographs that have been sent to us by Seawide.

Temporary repair to hull using T-Fix

Underwater repairs to ships hull using T-Fix

Find out more about T-Fix and its versatility.

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We come to your premises and demonstrate a pre-arranged variety of our products over a one to two hour session and lunch is on us.

Last week we visited Cassidy & Mullhall Ltd, a specialist contractor based in the heart of Northampton and Beta Design Consultants, design architects and structural engineers, based in West London.

Cassidy & Mullhall were interested in our Total Wall Care range of colour matched Brick Repair Mortars, Pointing Mortars and the shake to use Brick Tint. Steadfast MD Steve Newman demonstrated the workability of the lime-based mortars using various tooling techniques. During the hands-on session, he also demonstrated how incredibly quick and easy it is to use the Total Wall Care Brick Tint and how different finishes can be achieved using various methods of application.

It was an extremely successful session, very well received by the staff in attendance and the company are now looking to become Approved Installers of the Total Wall Care range.

The extended session with Beta Design Consultants was arranged to demonstrate the Polyac Rapid range of waterproof, decorative, anti-slip coatings, HelicalBar structural repair products and techniques, the Total Wall Care Range and the extremely versatile T-Fix, epoxy repair putty.

The technicians in attendance were very impressed with all products and in particular, saw the huge benefits in the extremely short cure time between coats for the Polyac Rapid system and with its adaptability for use of walkways, balconies, steps, flat roofs, drives and more.

They were also fascinated the versatility and strength of T-Fix. The epoxy repair putty can be used to bond different materials, fill concrete, metal, wood and masonry, stop leaks and can even be used under water.

To express your interest in a Lunch & Learn product demonstration session please call us on 0333 210 1410 or email admin@steadfastspl.com

In addition to Lunch & Learn, full product training on all of the products that we supply is available at our West Country testing and training facility.

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Phillip and his wife have a concrete post and timber panel fence at the front of their 1970’s property and they want to replace it with a brick garden wall.
However, they want the wall to match their bungalow but have been unable to source the original bricks. Undeterred, Phillip managed to find a buff coloured brick that had roughly the same texture as the originals. Ensuring that the brick was porous so that it could be stained, he purchased 2,000 and set about finding the appropriate brick dye.

Having found our website through a Google search, Phillip purchased three non-permanent sample pots of our Total Wall Care Colour Matching Brick Tint.

To achieve a deep base colour, he applied two coats of Burnt Orange brick tint with a paint brush. Once that had dried, he then used a handheld spray gun, filled with the Coffee Brown tint, to achieve a speckled effect. Once that had dried, he used the same technique with Carbon Black tint.

As you’ll see from the photos in the gallery below, the result is excellent, especially when you consider that this is a DIY brick tinting project and was not carried out by a trade professional. Click on each photo to enlarge it and to see a description.

Phillip has now purchased enough brick stain to permanently tint all 2,000 bricks and, as a thank you for supplying us with these excellent photographs, he received a personal discount code 😉

Total Wall Care Colour Matching Tint is available from our web shop in a range of colours and sizes, including the 75ml non-permanent sample pots, as used by Phillip.

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Whether damaged by impact, the elements, the removal of render, or by the use of the wrong type of mortar in the bed joint, damaged bricks are unsightly and can cause further issues with the building or structure through water ingress or failure. Repairing the damage with a cement or concrete mix not only looks unsightly but can cause  more severe damage in the future due to cracking caused by the repair material being harder than the original.

Fortunately an easy to use solution to repair broken brick is now available in the form of Total Wall Care Brick Repair Mortar.

Total Wall Care Brick Repair Mortar is available in a wide range of colours and sizes and, once mixed with water, is ready to use.

Here’s how:

Mortar Preparation

1. For colour consistency use a full bag of Total Wall Care Brick Repair Mortar.
2. Open bagged mortar and pour into a suitable clean, dry tub.
3. Mix 1 part water with 4-5 parts repair mortar. The mix should form into 1.5cm to 2.5cm balls and be slightly dry.

Repair Method

5. Ensure surface to be repaired is free from dust, dirt and loose particles.
6. Substrate should be pre-moistened and damp but not too wet. Weather factors such as direct sunlight must be taken into account.
7. Brush away any loose and crumbling material prior to repair.
8. Deep repairs should be built up in layers no more than 20mm deep and allowed to cure between layers.
9. The first layer should be slightly wetter than the main mix. Roughly the consistency of smooth peanut butter.

9.1 To prepare this place a small amount of mixed mortar into a seperate, clean container and mix with a little additional water.

10. Using an appropriate trowel, firmly press the mortar into the existing brick ensuring there are no gaps.
11. Allow each layer to cure ensuring that any top skin that forms is scrapped back between layers.
12. Final layer should be 3mm to 10mm proud of the surrounding surface and allowed to cure. 3mm is sufficient for flat brick.
13. The repair can be shaped and modelled with appropriate tools for up to two days after application.

Notes

14. Do not apply product in temperatures below 5°C.
15. In hot temperatures or direct sunlight, damp down the repair area with a water filled hand sprayer every 3 to 4 hours, or cover with damp hessian and allowed to cure.
16. Clean tools with clean water.
17. Remove any splatters in undesired places with clean water before they cure.

Total Wall Care Brick Repair Mortar is available in our webshop in a wide range of colours and sizes. Click here for more information.

NB. Repair deep, narrow cracks in brickwork by injecting with the specially developed Total Wall Care Colour Matched Crack Injection Mortar.

The post How to Repair Broken Brick – A step by step guide appeared first on Steadfast.

This picturesque area of central Italy is the home of Kimia, a company that specialise in the research, development and manufacture of products specifically for the repair of historical buildings. Unfortunately, this part of Italy is also an earthquake region and has suffered a series of earthquakes including a 6.6 magnitude quake in October 2016 which claimed 300 lives and devastated the town of Norcia and its collection of Medieval and Gothic buildings and monuments.

Steadfast’s founder and managing director Steve Newman, was invited to attend a workshop in Norcia, hosted by Kimia.
Kimia demonstrated their range of products and techniques, from traditional lime-based repair mortars, specially designed concrete repair solutions and innovative solutions using state-of-the-art products for repairing historic monuments with the need for protection against the severe movement caused by tremors and even future quakes.

See the gallery below for pictures of some of the damaged buildings and the restoration that is underway, along with some images from the workshop.

As a result of Steve’s questions, knowledge and hands on approach, Kimia have invited Steadfast to be their exclusive partner in the UK.

Look out for the launch of Kimia products on our website soon!

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India has a wealth of historical buildings including brick and stone built temples, palaces and forts and a large number have suffered extensive damage at the hands of the elements. Along with Ankur Vora of Appex and Dave Chadwick of Thor Helical, Steve is demonstrating the versatility and effectiveness of Jahn Repair Mortars for repairing brick and natural stone along with the tried and tested methods of masonry stabilisation using helical bar and anchoring products.

City Palace – Udaipur

On Tuesday and Wednesday the team were at the City Palace, Udaipur in the state of Rajasthan. Construction of the palace began in the 1550’s and although completed in the 16th Century it was further developed over a period of nearly 400 years.
The Palace is occupied by His Highness Shri Arvind Singh Mewar, the 76th custodian of the Mewar Dynasty.

His Highness Shri Arvind Singh Mewar (centre) pictured with his family along with Dave, Ankur and Steve.

To demonstrate the versatility and workability of Jahn Repair Mortars and as a gift to Shri Arvind Singh Mewar, a stone carving of his head was created using Jahn M70 Natural Stone Repair Mortar – Limestone.

Head carving using Jahn M70 Limestone

The finished carving of His Highness Shri Arvind Singh Mewar

A demonstration of stone restoration was also carried out.

Stone restoration demonstration

A masonry stabilisation demonstration was also carried out using Thor Helical long helical bar.

Crack stitching using long helical bar

We will bring you further pictures and updates as the tour progresses.

For more information on heritage conservation products please browse our website or contact the office on 0333 210 1410.

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At the time of writing there’s a lot of speculation as to the actual cause of the collapse with the removal of all interior walls being the most common theory.

One thing is for sure, what happened is an extreme example of a lack of lateral restraint. As you can see from the picture, the brick facade has moved forward significantly where the first floor meets the roof line.  This can even happen with all interior walls in place if there is insufficient lateral restraint tieing the brick facade to the structural diaphragm.

As would appear to be the case at the property in Lewisham, the roofs of period buildings are often replaced with much heavier, concrete tiles than were used during construction.  This increases the stress on the load bearing walls and if additional load is placed on the exterior facade, and it isn’t tied to the main diaphragm, this can lead to bowing and eventually collapse.

Additional lateral support can be provided with lateral restraint ties that self-tap into the flooring joists and are bonded into the external facade and with the installation of additional wall ties.

Another common cause of bowing walls, particularly in Victorian and Edwardian properties, is a lack of lateral restraint where the internal staircase runs parallel to the exterior wall. Because there are no floor joists at first floor level, the wall is only tied in at the ground level and at the roof line.  In such cases the use of masonry beaming can be used to “strap” the elevation to the perpendicular elevations that have adequate restraint.

It’s too late for the property in Lewisham but the good news is that nobody was hurt.

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