Westborough Methodist Church, Helifix Sock Anchors

The present building of Westborough Methodist Church dates from 1862, and is a Grade II listed building in Scarborough with large ashlar front and a Tetrastyle Corinthian portico with heavy entablature and pediment.Certain stone blocks within the architrave of the entablature had shown considerable signs of movement over the years, due to differential/thermal movement and corrosion of the mild steel fixings. The movement was such that it was deemed a potential H&S risk to those in the immediate vicinity of the portico.SUKR were appointed to realign and structurally stabilise the stone architrave using ten Helifix Sock Anchors each 1.5M in length. The holes to accommodate the anchors were diamond core drilled in the positions indicated on the design. The anchors were subsequently installed ensuring a minimum of 0.5m embedment into the adjacent masonry. Grout was then mechanically pumped slowly onto the sock, expanding the sock to fill the hole. Fluid permeates through the sock to provide a bond with the substrate while a solid aggregate bar/grout composite is formed in the sock.Once the structural integrity of the masonry was restored we finished the drill holes with a matching restoration mortar, fully concealing the repairs. Additional pointing works were also undertaken using a suitable lime based pointing mortar, as required on buildings of a historical nature.