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  6. Repairs: walls

Repairs: walls

Problem 14: Masonry bees

Bees boring into soft brick or, more likely, mortar joints can cause significant weakening to the joints and fabric if allowed to continue.

Solution

The only answer may be to use an insecticide and to carefully repoint, ensuring that any access points are closed off.

  • Previous Page Problem 13: Bird droppings and erosion

  • Next Page Problem 15: Weathered or desiccated mortar joints

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    • Failure to progress the work
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  • Repairs: walls

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    • The basics
    • Preliminary checks
    • Problem 1: Joining new walls to old
    • Problem 2: Cracking in mortar joints (sand-based/other brick types)
    • Problem 3: DPC wall oversail
    • Problem 4: Defective wall ties
    • Problem 5: Wall bowing
    • Problem 6: Historic cracks
    • Problem 7: 'Live' cracks caused by lintel failure/dropped arch
    • Problem 8: Defective flat arch
    • Problem 9: Temporary support of walls
    • Problem 10: Distortion and/or cracks due to foundation failure
    • Problem 11: Efflourescence
    • Problem 12: Snots
    • Problem 13: Bird droppings and erosion
    • Problem 14: Masonry bees
    • Problem 15: Weathered or desiccated mortar joints
  • Repairs: roofs and rainwater goods

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    • Key considerations
    • The basics
    • Pitched roof coverings
    • Flat roofs and coverings
    • Problem 1: Moss and lichen
    • Problem 2: Wind-induced distortion of pre-trussed roofs
    • Problem 3: Stabilising a new pre-trussed roof
    • Problem 4: Trussed rafters and home improvements
    • Problem 5: Traditional roofs: unsecured poling board
    • Problem 6: Inadequate purlin end bearings
    • Problem 7: Other purlin problems
    • Problem 8: Sagging single-pitched roof
    • Problem 9: Over-stressed or broken hip boards
    • Problem 10: Unsupported purlin joints (along the length of the purlin)
    • Problem 11: Half-brick-thick gables
    • Problem 12: Damp penetration in a roof
    • Problem 13: Ponding on a flat roof
    • Problem 14: Reduced flashing clearances
    • Problem 15: Failure of asbestos cement sheet
    • Probelm 16: Condensation under asbestos cement or sheet metal roof
    • Problem 17: Deterioration of PCM
    • Problem 18: Fire checks at party walls
    • Problem 19: Roof felts and insulation/vapour resistance
    • Problem 20: Fixing hip tiles
    • Problem 21: Water penetration at wall abutments with roofs
  • Repairs: floors and flooring

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    • Key considerations
    • The basics
    • Problem 1: Collapsed suspended timber ground floor
    • Problem 2: Undersized floor joists
    • Problem 3: Over-cut joists
    • Problem 4: Setting of concrete floor slab
    • Problem 5: Desiccated composition floor screed
  • Repairs: joinery, doors and kitchens

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    • Key considerations
    • Joinery - the basics
    • Problem 1: Moisture damage to timber cladding
    • Problem 2: Moisture ingress at a bay window
    • Problem 3: Stiles and mullions
    • Problem 4: Overhauling broken joints
    • Problem 5: Doors dropping and broken joints
    • Problem 6: Stairs with inadequate strings
    • Problem 7: Nosing defects/flexing across riser
    • Problem 8: Newel post/rails cut away
    • Problem 9: Ladder-effect balusters
    • Problem 10: Split panels (doors)
    • Problem 11: Filling old holes
    • Problem 12: Upgrading fire resistance
    • Problem 13: Hanging doors - general
  • Repairs: flues, fireplaces and chimneys

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    • Key considerations
    • The basics
    • Problem 1: Cracks to chimneys
    • Problem 2: Condensation
    • Problem 3: Unsupported chimney stacks
  • Repairs: drainage

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    • Key considerations
    • The basics
    • Problem 1: Relocating a sewer
    • Problem 2: Surface drainage
    • Problem 3: Septic tanks
  • Repairs: plumbing and heating

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    • Key considerations
    • The basics
    • Problem 1: Casting faults in sanitary ware
    • Problem 2: Lead pipework
    • Problem 3: Earth bonding
    • Problem 4: Backflows/syphoning
    • Problem 5: Radiator sizing
  • Repairs: electrics and miscellaneous items

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    • Electrics
    • Materials
    • Painting and decorating
    • Boundaries: walls, fences, gates and railings
    • Site works
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