The Close, Saxton Gardens, Leeds, 2007

Project

Nine-storey block of flats with concrete frame and brick clad gables; brickwork panels built off floor slab nibs.

Substantial cracking and movement of the brickwork to ground and first floor gable wall elevations.

Insufficient bearing width at the nibs, particularly at ground floor and lack of horizontal movement joints had caused stresses in the brick resulting in bulging at ground and first floor levels and de-bonding of wall ties.

Solution

Install Bersche – Rolt reinforcement in the bed joint two courses above the brick slip course, to form a masonry beam allowing the installation of stainless steel angles to extend the nibs which provide additional support to each panel.

Install movement joints below brick slips/nib at each floor.

Re-build ground and first floor panels.