Brick Stitching

[rcs]

Hi
Has anyone ever done any brick stitching and does anyone know where you can buy the stuff from. I know that you can have either glass fibre rods or some form of steel but Google doesn't want to tell me where to get the sticks and adhesive from.
Hope someone can help.
Many Thanks
rcs

 

[Static]

Do a search for Helifix

 

[^woody^]

Screwfix sell a kit and the individual items

 

[rcs]

Many Thanks
Has anyone actually done this work? Has it been at the instruction of an engineer or fix the reason for movement and stitch it up?
Cheers

 

[^woody^]

It is so easy, I can't see why it is left to specialist companies.

You rake the joint out to half-way, squeeze the resin in, slide the bar in, squeeze more resin in to within 15-20mm of the face, and then point up with mortar.

Whether this is the correct solution to the problem, is another matter

 

[rcs]

I have to say, it appears incredibly easy, which is one reason I posted. Have you actually done it Woody? Was it done as an Engineer had prescibed it? I've read somewhere that you can't just do it 'willy-nilly' if you've got a suspicious crack (fnar fnar). Our remedial work was to chock out the displaced joints with slate and repoint.
rcs

 

[^woody^]

As I said, whether it is the solution to a particular problem is another matter.

It will tie a cracked wall together no problem - but if the cause is not addressed, then further movement and further cracking elsewhere may develop.

The lengths and spacing of the bars should really be designed, and not done to some random plan.

Ive done it, and also specified it where we do window replacements to avoid having to install a new lintel. Aslo specified it where foundation movement has stopped, as a bit of 'insurance'.

If you have a 'suspicious' crack, then it is best to monitor it to see waht is happening, rather than repair it too soon.

 

[rcs]

Well we have more cracks than you can shake a stick at. It hasn't been touched for 50 years or so (1920's house)and is non progressive (according to the Engineer but I'm suspicious).
My main concern is that I'm re-doing the bathroom and putting in a tiled shower. I'm planning on batoning, Aquapanel and tiling but is all in the vacinity of a few cracks (plaster off, gaps in mortar of <4mm in both walls). Any further movement would (I'm assuming) be taken up by the batons/board and not trash my tiles. The cracks I refer to are about 5 courses down from the roof wall plate but considering stitching area beforehand.
Any ideas?
rcs

 

[joe-90]

If your house is built on clay then the wetter winters and drier summers are causing this sort of problem with shrinkage and heave. The idea behind the rods is to spread the load over several bricks rather than just one.