Cracked wall advice sought

[hi1]

Have a look at the attached image please and give me some thoughts on what you'd do to effect a repair.
See the next post for image wouldn't upload first time
construction is columbage, norman local method. Basically clay with bits of stone in it. Stone work is granite

 

[hi1]

see this

 

[^woody^]

columbage

.... is timber frame isn't it?

 

[wessex101]

I've never heard of "columbage", looks like some kind of rammed earth or cob wall construction to me. There is some serious deterioration and movement in the walls with a hefty price tag for repair if not partial rebuilding.

 

[JohnD]

columbage, norman local method.

I have a feeling this will not be an English word.

English West Country "Cob" is mud, straw, cowmuck mostly

There seems to be a lot more stone in yours.

My chum in Normandy had a timber-frame house with clay and random stone infill, mostly clay.

 

[RayCaister]

You could check with the experts* ... http://www.maisons-paysannes.org/maisons-paysannes-de-france/bienvenue/

 

[hi1]

Hi thanks for all your replies.
I understand columbage to be the system of wooden framed building with a clay stone in fill similar to cob but with the added reinforcing of the frame. Cob I understand to be rammed earth with a straw reinforcing.
I was thinking possibly using stainless steel rod across the crack into something almost like dexion shelving frame let into slots in the wall and tightening up the tie rod, not necessarily to pull the crack closed but to prevent further movement. Ideal would to replace all the clay with block and render but theres 50 meters of it x 2 stories high.

 

[RobertPaulson]

Appears that the roof is spreading as the right hand side crack is to the top of the wall. Has the roof covering been replaced recently?

I don't know what has happened with the middle crack.

The construction of the wall may make it difficult to tie together with a fabricated steel bracket.

Id instruct a structural engineer in the first instance.

 

[wessex101]

It is a very specialist area. Once the weather gets at that type of earth structure and it deteriorates beyond a certain point it becomes very unstable and prone to sudden collapse. It looks like there has already been a partial collapse to the ground floor (possibly an old doorway) where the stonework has been inserted which is possibly why it has got those 2 substantial vertical cracks running up to the roof.

I hope you have got plenty of time and deep pockets. Could be a great project.

 

[pilsbury]

What's the building used for? A house? Storage? How long have those cracks been there?

Now I'm a bit of a cheapskate so in the absence of a proper structural survey, I'd get an appropriate mix (clay, mud, straw - whatever was originally used) and pack up those cracks myself.

If it isn't moving, you've fixed it. If it is still moving you'll now be able to see much easier as the crack opens up.

Or you could get a proper survey on it and go the proper (expensive) route.

 

[hi1]

Thanks for all your replies

 

[^woody^]

It's most likely related to roof spread. You need to resolve the cause before dealing with the effects.

And then if it is a timber frame, then you need to restrain that before repairing the infill.