Historic buildings
By admin structural repairs • • • • • • • 0 Comments

Historic Buildings The Advantages of Helifix

Historic buildings are an important part of our heritage. They tell the story of our past and provide a connection to our ancestors. However, these buildings can be susceptible to damage and decay over time. That's where Helifix comes in. Helifix is a specialist structural repair system that’s ideal for use in historic building conservation projects.

At London Structural Repairs, we use Helifix products on a range of our projects, especially when we are working on older buildings that require that extra bit of care. From cracking to lintel repairs, there are many reasons why we choose to use their products.

The Challenges of Working on Historic Buildings

Working on historic buildings can be challenging. These buildings are often complex and fragile, and any repairs must be carried out with care. Traditional repair methods can be disruptive and time-consuming. They may also damage the original fabric of the building, which is something we avoid at all costs.

The Advantages of Using Helifix

Helifix offers several advantages over traditional repair methods. Here are some of the key benefits that we find especially important with the projects we are working on:

  • Minimally invasive: Helifix systems are designed to be minimally invasive, meaning that they can be installed with minimal disruption to the fabric of the building. This is particularly important for historic buildings, which may be fragile and sensitive to damage.
  • Durable and long-lasting: Helifix systems are made from high-quality materials that are designed to last. This means that they can provide a long-term solution to structural problems, without the need for frequent repairs or replacements.
  • Versatile: Helifix systems can be used to repair a wide range of structural problems, including cracks, subsidence, and wall tie failure. This makes them ideal for use in historic buildings, which may have a variety of structural issues.
  • Aesthetically pleasing: Helifix systems can be installed in a way that is sympathetic to the original fabric of the building. This means that they can be used to repair historic buildings without compromising their appearance.
  • Cost-effective: Helifix systems can be a cost-effective way to repair historic buildings. This is because they are often less expensive than traditional repair methods, such as rebuilding or replacing damaged sections of the building.
  • Environmentally friendly: Helifix systems can be a more environmentally friendly way to repair historic buildings. This is because they often require less materials and energy to install than traditional repair methods.

If you are considering repairing  historic buildings, Helifix is a great option. It is a cost-effective, durable, and environmentally friendly solution that can help to preserve our heritage for future generations.

Warning Signs of Bowing Walls
By admin structural repairs • • • • • 0 Comments

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.

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

 

Click Here to See Our Services Page

 

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.

 

REQUEST A FREE QUOTE

 

 

building repair
By admin London Structural Repairs • structural repairs • • 0 Comments

Building Repair Expert? Why Is It Important to Hire a Professional

Building Repair Experts

Whether you own a residential building or an office space, Building Repair and maintenance  are imperative for all types of buildings, especially, if you are really interested in keeping them looking at their best for years to come.

Without building repair services, even the smallest of problems can quickly escalate and get out of hand, forcing you to spend a fortune on repairs and renovation. You could’ve easily avoided these had you considered timely maintenance at the right time.

As unfortunate as it sounds, the vast majority of people refuse to take building repair and maintenance services into account, causing the building to deteriorate sooner than it should. In this post, however, we will convince you about the benefits that a professional building repairs service really offers, and all of the reasons why you should consider hiring one for your buildings in London.

Why Not Give LSR A Call

Optimized Resource Allocation

The number one reason why people do not hire building repair services is because they believe that it is a waste of money, and that the tasks can easily be taken on by their employees. Unfortunately, this is a very narrow-minded approach, and essentially trivializes the time and effort that building maintenance professionals spend on the tasks that are assigned to them.

As professionals of the field, building maintenance experts do not only know how to inspect each aspect of the building, but they also know how to allocate resources efficiently and effectively, ensuring optimization.

Timely Repairs

As mentioned above, it doesn’t take long for even the minutest of repairs to be aggravated, resulting in damages that will not only cost a fortune, but also cause plenty of downtime. However, when a professional building repair services is hired, this very problem can be avoided in its entirety, leaving you with a building or property that’s always up to the mark.

With professionals of a building repair service paying regular visits to you building time and again, it goes without saying that all problems and areas that need repair will be noticed in a timely manner, preventing them from getting worse.

Check out our Services page

Seamless Experience

Needless to say, when a professional  is hired for your residential properties or office spaces in London, you are not only bound to get a seamless experience, but all problems will also be dealt with in a highly professional manner. Additionally, if repairs are to be made to the building, they will be taken care of in such a way that it looks good as new.

Convinced of the benefits of hiring a professional building repair services? Give London Structural Repairs a call today at 020 8936 7699 today to find out the different ways in which our team of professionals can help you with building repairs and maintenance and all kinds of repairs!

CONTACT US FOR A QUOTE

Stone Damage
By admin London Structural Repairs • stone repairs • structural repairs • • 0 Comments

Common Reasons for Stone Damage

Stone damage is one of the most common problems that home owners in London and surrounding areas have to experience. Since stone structures are known for having an incredibly sophisticated and elegant look, even the most minute damages can affect the property considerably when it comes to buildings that are made primarily of stone. 

Despite the various reasons that can contribute to the deterioration of stone structures, you will be glad to know that the damage is – in most cases – completely reversible, which means that professional services like London Structural Repairs can leave your buildings looking good as new. 

Interested in learning more about the most common reasons for stone damage in London and how our professionals at London Structural repairs can help? Read on as we let you in on three of the most common reasons why stone damage occurs and how we can help.

 

 

Why Not Give LSR A Call

 

Crystallisation of Salts

It doesn’t come as a surprise to many that stone structures often have salts in their pores and openings. Contrary to popular belief, however, the crystallization of these salts can prove to be highly detrimental to the surface of the stone structure, leaving it with visible cracks and seams, affecting the look of the stone structure or building in an extremely negative way.

 

Dissolution 

While many people fail to take this into consideration, certain types of stones including marbles, limestone, and dolostone can be affected by acid rain which has unfortunately become a common occurrence in most cities. When in contact with water that has been mixed with acidic elements or compounds, structures or buildings that have been created using any of the aforementioned stones or other carbonate stones will begin to deteriorate and lose their lustre and shine as a result of dissolution. 

In certain cases, cracks and seams, too, can start forming on the structure, leaving it dull and unattractive. However, by consulting a professional service like London Structural Repairs, you can have the surface of your stone structure repaired. Furthermore, our professionals will also be able to help you deal with hidden damages that may not be as prominent.

 

Check out our Services page

 

 

Why is it important to get the Structural Repairs carried out by a specialist?

As a home owner it is important to try and get any structural repair works to your property carried out by a specialist company, because it will save you time and money as a lot of the drawings supplied by a structural engineer can be quit complicated and hard to understand especially for a general builder who has not had any training in modern remedial repair systems.

If you have recently purchased a property or are in the process of buying one and would like help in understanding any structural defects on the property or if you would like a quotation then please contact London Structural Repairs one of Londons leading specialists structural repair companies.

 

Human Contact

Another reason that most people fail to take into consideration is human contact with stone buildings. Regular human contact such as walking on marble floors etc is known to deteriorate the look of stone buildings and structures. Additionally, stone structures are often more easily damaged with sharp objects compared to concrete structures, leaving them with visible lines and cracks that take away from the elegant cv finish of the stone structure. 

Fortunately for many, companies like London Structural Repairs have a team of experts that can help with any kind of stone damage. Leveraging the latest tools and techniques, our experts can not only improve the look of your stone buildings, but also deal with cracks, seams, and other stone structure problems in a professional manner, leaving your buildings looking good as new. 

 

Interested in stone repairs? Give us a call at 020 8936 7699 today to find out how we can help!

 

 

CONTACT US FOR A QUOTE

 

Structural Survey
By admin London Structural Repairs • structural repairs • Structural Survey • • 0 Comments

Structural survey Benefits

What is a structural survey?

A structural survey is carried out by a firm of structural engineers. It consists of a detailed inspection from the top to the bottom of a building looking at all aspects of the building structure, for example: the condition of the roof, the types of materials used, possible areas of concern, damage to brick or stonework and damp related issues. A structural survey is the most comprehensive type of building surveys, they find potential problems and building defects which will then be put into a detailed structural survey report identifying any problems found and then a specialist structural repair company can carry out the repairs.

London Structural Repairs work closely with Structural Surveyors and engineers to help solve any defects your property may have.

 

Why Not Give LSR A Call

 

Why is a structural survey important?

A Structural survey is important for finding out what problems you have with your building, for example, if you are looking to buy a new house as an investment or to live in you may want to consider having a structural surveys carried out if: the property is of a Victorian or Edwardian period, the property is expensive, the property is more than 2 stories high, you can clearly see the property needs structural repair works i.e if it is showing signs of any cracking or movement, if the property is of an unusual construction i.e timber framed, or if you are intending on carrying out any major alterations to the property. A structural survey may help you decide whether you wish to purchase the property as is will give you an indication on how much you would need to spend in order to fix the problems.

 

What is a Structural Engineers Report?

Structural engineers reports are carried out by a chartered structural or civil engineer, they identify, evaluate and give recommendations to the homeowners on any problems with the foundation or the structure of their home. Within this report such problems may be uncovered: if soil erosion has occurred, if your buildings foundation is poorly constructed, or if any wood is present which may create future problems as rotting is possible.

 

Check out our Services page

 

Why is it important to get the Structural Repairs carried out by a specialist?

As a home owner it is important to try and get any structural repair works to your property carried out by a specialist company, because it will save you time and money as a lot of the drawings supplied by a structural engineer can be quit complicated and hard to understand especially for a general builder who has not had any training in modern remedial repair systems.

If you have recently purchased a property or are in the process of buying one and would like help in understanding any structural defects on the property or if you would like a quotation then please contact London Structural Repairs one of Londons leading specialists structural repair companies.

 

 

CONTACT US FOR A QUOTE

 

Concrete Damage
By admin balcony repair • concrete repairs • London Structural Repairs • structural repairs • • 0 Comments

What is concrete damage

Concrete Damage: Why does it happen?

Contrary to popular belief, concrete too, has a lifespan after which it can become damaged. Concrete damage can also be a sign of an underlying structural issue. Since there can be many complications caused as a direct result of the damage, concrete repair should be a priority as soon as a crack is detected.
There are a few reasons why concrete can become damaged even before its time. A few reasons of concrete damage are listed below:

Quick Drying
If the concrete you are using dries very quickly, chances are that it will crack soon after it solidifies. The shift in state of the concrete from liquid to solid requires a degree of water to be present in the concrete mixture.

Corrosion Caused by Reinforcement Bars
When iron bars are reinforced into the concrete in order to strengthen the structure, there is a possibility of rust forming on the iron through chemical reactions. The increased volume of rust will press against the concrete and make room for its own expansion. This strain on the concrete by the rust may cause it to crack. These types of concrete damage are particularly dangerous since the stability of the entire structure is under threat due to both rusty bars and damaged concrete.

Too Much Water in the Concrete Mixture
As opposed to the causes for quick drying, excessive amounts of water in the concrete mixture can also cause the concrete to eventually crack. Concrete achieves its maximum strength without the use of too much water. An excess of water can tamper with the potential strength of the concrete. Concrete damage caused by excessive water is one of the most common problems since people are generally unaware of the water requirements of different qualities of concrete.

Give us a call today! for friendly professional advice

What should you do if you see cracks in your concrete?
Concrete damage is dangerous. Cracks caused as a result of imprecise proportions of water in your concrete mixture may teach you a lesson or two for the future, but the cracks still need to be dealt with. If you notice any discoloration in your walls, this can be an indication of water leakages and mould accumulating in the concrete. Additionally, any cracks which seem to worsen with time also put your home or building in great danger since the problem often goes beyond the surface in cases like these.

In any case, concrete repair or replacement is extremely necessary if cracks are detected. You can never be certain how much damage has already been done. Attempting to repair the damage in your property by yourself is not advised since there are usually a number of complications involved in the structure of a building. You should always leave concrete repairs work to a experienced and insured professional to prevent any further damage.

If your concrete is damaged then why not check out our services to help you.

London Structural Repairs have experience and expertise in using Sikaconcrete repair products.

If you live in London and have noticed any cracks to your property, give us a call at 020 8936 7699 let our professionals take care of your concrete repairs.

 

CONTACT US FOR A QUOTE