Malthouse Lane Flats

Built in the early 1960’s, two storey Malthouse Flats are housing association properties that had developed structural problems. The masonry cracking was identified as being the result of subsidence due to inadequacies in the foundations.

The client commissioned a detailed ground investigation and, during excavation works, contractors discovered some cellars belonging to terraced houses that had previously occupied the site.

Cost-effective structural repairs were required that would rectify the faults and stabilise the properties, preventing any further subsistence and building damage.

Using the client’s ground investigations, Helifix devised a suitable repair scheme using its Dixie micro-piles to overcome the subsidence problems, and the Helibeam system to secure the damaged masonry. These were specified as they could be rapidly and efficiently installed using lightweight equipment externally, therefore causing minimal disruption to residents and a cost effective solution to leave the properties visually, unaltered.

As a Helifix approved installer, SUKR were appointed to carry out the works as per the above scheme.

Holes were dug adjacent to the foundations and notches cut into the building’s footings. Nine micro-piles were then driven to a depth of 10m in order to reach the load bearing bedrock and achieve the required torque.

Adjustable ‘L’ shaped brackets were fitted to the piles and placed under the foundations. They were then jacked up until the specified safe working load was achieved, with the piles then fully supporting the building loads.

Approximately 60m of stainless steel HeliBars were bonded into appropriate mortar beds with HeliBond cementicious grout to stitch the cracked brickwork and restore structural integrity.

Comments passed from Mrs Eaton, a resident of Malthouse Lane, Ashover, not a tenant of these flats but has lived in Ashover all of her life:
‘I have never seen such good workmen in all my life. They worked so hard. They dug and dug until all I could see were their heads! I didn’t hear any noise from them. They were here from 8am until 5pm everyday, sometimes later, but they didn’t disturb me at all. Their vans didn’t get in the way. We get a lot of tractors and farm vehicles on Malthouse Lane but they left plenty of room and made sure they didn’t cause an obstruction. They just got on with their work, I couldn’t fault them at all – and I am a very picky woman!’