2009 - PCA Building Maintenance in Education Feature

Structural repair and stabilisation offers a cost effective, low impact and environmentally sound alternative to demolition and rebuilding – and is vital to preserve and protect heritage buildings.

 

However, finding a professional to undertake the works can be a challenging process as maintaining the building, whilst carrying out a cost-effective and safe remedy, presents a number of challenges.

 

The Property Care Association (PCA) based in Huntingdon, is a useful first port of call for advice on the subject.

 

Representing the nation’s structural maintenance industry, as well as the structural waterproofing, wood preservation and flood remediation sectors, the trade body brings together training, high levels of technical expertise and professional surveyor, manufacturer and contractor members.

 

As well as delivering a trusted structural maintenance and stabilisation procedure, PCA members are able to carry out specialist surveys – to identify potential problems - together with a range of other services and expertise ultimately designed to preserve and protect buildings across the UK.

 

Many of the PCA’s members have extensive experience of working within the historic building sector and understand the concerns and special requirements needed within these areas, including the use of non-intrusive technology.

 

The Association’s members have also worked on the development and use of pioneering structural maintenance and stabilisation techniques, including methods of application that work sympathetically with historic buildings.

 

Tapping into the expertise of a PCA member gives access to these innovative, flexible solutions – available for a wide range of structural repair challenges.

 

Steve Hodgson, deputy chief executive of the Property Care Association, with responsibility for technical matters at the trade body, said: “First and foremost, with any problem associated with structural maintenance, it is vital that a professional inspection is carried out to build an accurate picture of the issue to be faced.

 

“This cannot be left to chance, and time and finances need to be set aside to ensure any problems are correctly identified and an accurate diagnostic inspection is obtained.

 

“Once the problem is established, a solution then needs to be drawn up, which takes into consideration all the aspects of the building. It is absolutely critical that a structural engineer is involved to supervise and draw up the specification and works in partnership with the appointed contractor.

 

“There are a number of methods available to deal with the various types of structural repair.

 

“For example, cavity wall tie corrosion, a common problem in older cavity walled properties has well-established remediation strategies. New stainless steel ties can be installed, either bonded in resin or mechanically. The corroded ties can be isolated and removed – and in some cases left in-situ.

 

“One problem we can come across is cracking as a result of movement in the ground or within the structure, and again there are a number of remedies for this.

 

“Ground subsidence can be caused by trees, shifting water tables, drought, corrosion, decay, stress failure, poor maintenance, water, vibration and even salt attack.

 

“Foundation problems and the movement of walls are all commonplace where ground subsidence occurs, but methods used to cope with such problems can include pinning, strapping, restraint systems and cementitious anchors.

 

“Crack stitching using profiled stainless steel bars and resin grout is also becoming more widely used as an effective method of repair and is particularly effective in dealing with cracked stone and brickwork. Lintel replacement and panel strengthening can also be undertaken using these techniques – and the effect of this is that the repaired building shows little evidence of any intervention to correct structural problems.

 

“Finally, timber resin repair and reinforcement offers an effective means to repair existing timber beams that are decayed and need to be strengthened.

 

“Looking at the project overall, consideration needs to be given as to how the work will fit in with the day-to-day activities of the building.

 

“Contractors need to be sympathetic to the fact that the site is still likely to be in use during the repair project. This means that they should create a working environment that is clean and safe and fits in with the events and other functions of the building where possible – and good relations are maintained with the community who use the building too.”

 

The PCA’s nationwide list of contractor members are all carefully vetted before being awarded membership - and are then subject to rigorous auditing procedures once admitted to the trade body. Members of the trade body can offer insured guarantees for much of the structural work they undertake.

 

The PCA also offers a range of training and technical support to help property professionals tackle problems associated with structural maintenance. Courses are provided in a number of subjects including timber resin repair and cavity wall tie repair.

 

More information on structural maintenance is available from the Association’s website at http://www.property-care.org/about-us/structural-damage

 

 

The Property Care Association

Telephone 0870 1216737

Find out more at http://www.property-care.org

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Article written by Jane Shepherd of Shepherd PR Limited, 01538 308685, mobile 07985 129315 for Museums and Heritage magazine.