Lateral Restraint: The Solution to Bulging Walls
As a property ages, it becomes more and more susceptible to structural weaknesses. Lack of lateral restraint between floor beams and external masonry can lead to the visible symptom of bulging walls: as this bulging process happens gradually over an extended time period, it is often not noticed until the damage is severe
In new build structures, walls are secured to floors during the building process and internal partion brickwork is connected to the external walls, preventing bulging. When it comes to retrofit applications for older buildings, the traditional remedy was to run a metal rod completely through the building, connecting to point-loaded iron pattresses on the outside: an impractical, unsightly and ineffective solution in restraining the wall as a whole.
Twistfix supply a wide range of load-sharing lateral restraint products which are much less invasive than the traditional solution. It is a simple task to determine the positions of joists, pipework and wiring inside a building affected by bulging, after which Twistfix Lateral Restraint Bars can be installed, tying bulging masonry back to the internal floor structure and thus helping to restore structural integrity.
The retrofit installation of lateral restraints is carried out from the outside of the affected property, ensuring that a minimum of disruption is experienced. After the tie-bars have been wound into the timbers, polyester or epoxy resin is used to firmly bond the bar to the masonry wall. When completed, the entire process leaves almost no visible trace, delivering strength and security to the structure while maintaining its aesthetic.
Of course, tying walls to the timber diaphragm is only part of the solution; the additional insertion of bed-joint reinforcement to strengthen the facade and retrofit wall connectors to tie it back to partition walls all serve to secure the wall in place and to prevent further bulges and bowing.
The Twistfix Bulging Wall Restraint Kit contains everything required to achieve professional results and forms part of our lateral restraint family of products. Find out more on the product pages and don;t forget to subscribe to our newsletter for updates, how-to guides, special features and exclusive offers.