Masonry Anchors? Wall Restraints?
Does anyone know a masonry contractor/architect who is familiar with installing masonry anchors or wall restraints (those pretty little stars that hold lovely old buildings together?) Also, does anyone know what is involved in this process? From what I understand, it may have to be fairly invasive since the rod needs to run through the…
Does anyone know a masonry contractor/architect who is familiar with installing masonry anchors or wall restraints (those pretty little stars that hold lovely old buildings together?) Also, does anyone know what is involved in this process? From what I understand, it may have to be fairly invasive since the rod needs to run through the entire structure but will I have to rip out cielings etc. to expose the cieling beams/joists? I am dealing with an 1850’s corner property that is leaning about 3-4″ at the top outside corner. Any info on this would be much appreciated!
If you just need to stabilize you could look into carbon fiber sheeting. It is still a new technology for civil projects tho so might not be available in NY.
Howdy,
I don’t remember the contractor but I wouldn’t recommend them either. My sense was they made a large job even larger, but I have no real evidence to back it up. Yeah, bowing’s probably the right word. Basically in 3 or four places over the facade (was 20 by 100) the bricks bowed out and in over an area. So over the door there was a space about 5 feet wide and 6-7 feet high where each row of bricks bowed out a little further than the last, and then bowed in after the apex. . . . if you get my drift. Hence taking the bricks out and putting them back up 100% vertically. Your lean may well be just that.
John, thanks for you remarks. By bubble do you mean bowing or “swollen” displacement of the bricks. I do have this problem over the garage which will need to be dealt with as well but the problem I am dealing with is more of a lean at the top outer corner. Do you have a contractor you worked with that you liked? Again, thanks for you comments
Had the same problem with my 1833 co-op building. The brick had come away in “bubbles.” Areas that leaned out several inches on the facade. Bad news is it was very invasive – on the outside, scaffolding and take out the brick that’s not parallel, then rebuild using same bricks. On the inside, open up the wall and reattach to cross beams, ’cause ultimately that was the problem.
But we didn’t use steel rods and stars. I think that was a “fix” from years gone by – but I could be wrong. It cost us about $80k to fix multiple bubbles, scaffold, engineers, the works. A smaller area would be much, much less.