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Services
Listed below are the full range of services provdided by Anglian Tectonics. Click the links for more detailed information.
Many mature properties are subject to rising dampness due to the lack of an effective damp proof course (a horizontal layer of water-proof material built into a wall, e.g. slate, bitumen, polythene). Existing damp proof courses can also become bridged by high external ground levels or can, over time, break down.
The presence of condensation can often be mistaken for rising damp. Condensation is the result of warm humid air from the interior of the building condensing as it comes into contact with cold walls. Condensation results in the presence of mould growth and musty smells within the home.
Below Ground Waterproofing (also known as Tanking)
Areas below the ground are often not used to their full potential and are therefore regarded as ‘dead space’. However, Anglian Tectonics is able to supply and install systems that can be used to waterproof below ground walls and floors, in order that they can be converted into dry habitable living areas. This system can also be adapted for use in new build structures. All projects are specified differently, in order to meet the requirements of the client and comply with BS8102: 1990. (This is the British Standard for waterproofing of structures below the ground).
There are several species of wood boring beetles, which are prevalent in the structural timbers of properties within this country. The most common species often identified is the common furniture beetle (Anobium punctatum) and death watch beetle (Xestobium rufovillosum). These are normally referred to as ‘woodworm’.
Early symptoms of cavity wall tie corrosion are usually visible through the ‘jacking’ action associated with this phenomenon. This can been seen as cracks within the mortar bed joints, slight separation of cross walls or stair stringers from flank walls, cracking of ceiling finishes as ceiling joists are pushed up, cambering of window cills and diagonal cracks over windows, especially soldier arch lintels.
The term ‘Wet Rot’ is often used to describe most fungi other than dry rot and is confined to wet timbers only. Wet rot fungus has no facility to colonise any surrounding timbers or other building materials.
Dry Rot (Serpula lacrymans) is a wood destroying fungi, which requires the presence of moisture in timbers during its initial stages of growth. Water that penetrates the wood allows bacteria and micro fungi to colonise. These break down the cell structure of the timber and the wood becomes more porous which allows it to become wetter.
Lateral Restraint Installation
The restraint of external walls is often provided by floor joists and purlins spanning onto a wall together with buttressing cross walls; however, the presence of stairwells, parallel joists and stud cross walls will deny restraint. A lack of lateral restraint may cause the wall to bulge, particularly to areas where cavity wall tie corrosion has occurred.
It is possible to install new lateral restraints by fixing stress free masonry re-inforcing products through the masonry and into adjacent floor joists. This work can be undertaken with minimal disruption to the external face of the building.
If lintels have failed due to metal corrosion or timber decay and/or the masonry has deteriorated, such as dropped arch or soldier lintels, they can be repaired or strengthened using masonry re-inforcing rods.
Timber decay, either at the end of a beam or mid span usually means that extensive opening up is required to replace the affected area.
The Rotafix Timber Resin Splice (TRS) system offers the very best method for the repair of in-situ timber joists, wall plates, lintels and structural timbers.
Where masonry is found to be cracked but stable, stress free masonry re-inforcing rods can be installed across the crack.