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ST ANDREW’S CHURCHBrick-Tie Preservation are abreath of fresh air!

JOHN PAYNEHaving Brick-Tie on board islike having AA cover!

ISSUE 3 - 2010/11

When Ed Batty at Leeds University found damp“upwards of a metre and rising” in the campus'sSchool of English teaching rooms he turned toBrick-Tie Preservation for the correct answers:-

“I'd worked with Brick-Tie some years ago in privatepractice and valued their knowledge, expertise andhonesty” says Ed, who works in the University’sEstates Department.

The size and scope of Leeds University isbreathtaking: the UK's second largest Universitywith 30,000 students from over 130 countries and8000 staff, making it Leeds' single largestemployer, and contributing over £1 billion a year tothe city's economy, the size of the campus itself isone mile square. And that's a lot of buildings!

“We set very high standards, both academically andin the care of our students and staff” says Ed “Sowe needed a solution to the damp problem - and ata specified time when the students were away on asummer break”

Water-Repellent Silicone

A main meeting room, corridor and two seminarrooms were affected and the Brick-Tie Preservationteam joined forces with Safeguard Europe - a UKmarket leader in damp-proofing and waterproofingsolutions for the construction industry. Says BryanHindle: - “Our specification included the SafeguardCementitious Waterproofing System combined withtheir highly efficient Dryzone DPC injection cream.

The Dryzone was introduced into a series of 12mmholes drilled into the mortar courses. Once installed,it diffuses before curing into a water-repellentwhich then prevents damp from rising up the wall”

Health & SafetyWithin three weeks the job was done, replastered,fully functional and decorated and Ed, when askedfor the main reason he entrusted Brick-TiePreservation with the job, politely declined:-

“I can't give you one reason - you'll have to settle for fivereasons” he said. “Highly competent, high quality work,reliable, never go back on their word and trustworthy…

Coincidentally, Brick-Tie Preservation’s work on therooms met with an unexpected Health &SafetyExecutive inspection and the team was commended bythe inspectors for their clean, tidy and safe site practice.

We are delighted with the company and they areundertaking further work at our prestigious Schoolof Music faculty.”

www.safeguardeurope.com

“”

Highly competent,high quality work, reliable,

never go back on theirword and trustworthy.

Ed Batty

Top: Brick-Tie supervisor Stuart Lattimer (left)discussing the finished result with Ed Batty and

technician Ryan Shann.

“The damp was up to here before Brick-Tie solvedthe problem!” Ed reminds the Brick-Tie team

InsightSatisfaction to a high degree at Leeds University

Welcome to Issue 3 of our Insight Newsletter......thanks for your comments on past issues,saying you find them interesting and informative - it’s appreciated.

And welcome too, to our new company logo, which brings Brick-Tie and BT Preservation together in a new look.Our Brick-Tie logo has been our recognisable image for 24 years, with the BT Preservation one sitting alongside for 18 yearsor so. Some clients found this confusing - not surprising when you realise how wide our range of specialisation is; outside ofwall tie work. So from now on we've combined the logos and names to the obvious choice - Brick-Tie Preservation. Our trustyold Brick-Tie logo will still pop up, though only on dedicated wall tie work, where it is recognised as the leading brand in walltie replacement. All other activities will be under the new combined brand logo. We hope you like it.

®

To Huddersfield for this case study to meet DavidWood of Chartered Building Surveyors Lucas Leeand Partners, who asked us to quote on a forthcomingproject after reading positive client comments in anearlier edition of our Insight newsletter.

An important part of Lucas Lee’s work is contractadministration - a service which manages and protectsclient's property assets, advising on building defects,design specification and procurement methods.

Serious Deterioration

A key Lucas Lee client, the well-established LeedsEstate Agents Adair Paxton, had received complaintsfrom residents of a managed private apartmentcomplex, about serious and sudden deterioration of the40-unit garage block built over two storeys on the site...

“There had been an ongoing ground condition problemon site,” explained David, “and the garages are singleskin and unrestrained. Cracks were beginning to appearand the outer wall was bowing, with gaps in evidence.”

“A collapse was possible without urgent attentionand the attendant costs if parked cars were involvedwould have been horrendous, not to mention thehealth and safety aspects.”

Specialist intervention was required and Brick-Tie’sexpertise in these matters was called for, following adetailed inspection and tender.

Stability

The work involved the installation of Helifix remedialwall ties and Helibeam crack stitching by ourqualified staff - followed by site tension testing of thenew ties to ensure the building's long-term stability.

David says it was obvious from his first meeting withBryan Hindle that Brick-Tie were right for the job:-“The company is very open and honest and I wasimpressed throughout with the levels of expertiseand professionalism shown by the team; they got onwith the job, solved the problem and you wouldn'tknow they'd been on site.

The work was completed without any inconvenienceto the tenants, who were briefed by Brick-Tiethroughout the process; they even did a letter-dropto each tenant explaining what they were intendingto do, answering any questions that arose andoffering a free helpline for tenants to call too”.

This was Brick-Tie's idea and it made our job mucheasier. Very professional!”

John Payne of Adair Paxton was equally impressed;- “If a problem arises with any of our properties wecall in Lucas Lee because they're always reliable.With them and Brick-Tie on board it’s a bit likehaving AA cover!”

Since then we are pleased to report we havecompleted more projects with Lucas Lee & Partnersand Adair Paxton too…

www.lucaslee.co.ukwww.adairpaxton.co.ukwww.helifix.co.uk

Parking Problems? Not for Brick-Tie!

Form an Orderly NVQ...Five of Brick-Tie’s staff have recently achieved NVQ level 2 in Wall Tie Replacement. The qualification has been availablefor a few years but until now, there was no training provider willing to take on the assessment work required to achievethe qualification.

Our technicians are amongst the first in the country to achieve independent recognition of their wall tie replacementexpertise. Well done Stuart, Darren, Ryan, Craig and Bryan.

We've been installing all kinds of wall ties for over 24 year years, with Stuart Lattimer and Bryan being in the business fromthe start.

As Stuart explains, “Replacing wall ties isn’t rocket science, but the completed work is hidden from view and customersdepend on us to do the work properly, because they cannot check it for themselves, - it’s a big responsibility”.

Our thanks go to: Construction Skills, City & Guilds institute, The Wall Tie Installers Federation, T-Centrix and our trainingmanager; Katrina Jackson for all the hard work they’ve done to bring this NVQ into being.

The answer to Preservation issues is usuallyto be found in Bryan’s capable hands - in this

case a reel of Helifix HeliBars!

David Wood clearly happy with the tension tests on site.

“Having Lucas Lee and Brick-Tie on site is a bit likehaving AA cover” says John Payne of Adair Paxton.

How to solve a 900-yearproblem in 7 weeks…

In April 1952 a wedding was celebratedat St Andrew's Church in Ferrybridge,Yorkshire.As the bride and groom walked down the pathfrom the church porch followed by their guests,two builders on top of the Norman towerlowered the first stone from the edge of thetower by rope to the ground. It was to be rebuiltstone by stone, closer to the village centre.

Quite why the Norman builders - back in 1100- decided to build the church on marshy groundcan only be speculated, but problems were toresult from that decision, some 900 years later.

Expansion and CrackingBrick-Tie Preservation Managing director Bryan Hindle takes up the story:-“We believe that during the re-build, in 1952, some building sand wascontaminated with sulphates; this manifested itself years later due to a long termroof leak damping down the affected area and bringing the sulphates into play -causing sulphate attack; expansion of the cement and cracking.”

Steve Simmonds of Fennel, Green and Bates, Wakefield, one of the oldest MineralSurveyors and Mining Engineers in the UK - had called in Brick-Tie Preservation tosolve the problem: - “Over the years many different solutions had been tried by manydifferent people, but the problem remained and in fact was becoming quite dangerouswith extensive cracking and debonded plaster becoming a major problem. We decidedto call in Brick-Tie Preservation basically because they know what they're doing!Once we'd got the experts in the problem was sorted in just seven weeks...”

Problems SolvedBrick-Tie Preservation devised a system of repair which involved extensivereinforcement of the damaged and cracked areas combined with an internal plastersystem insulated from the background by a liquid applied membrane.

Says Bryan Hindle:- “Over 100 metres of 6mm diameter stainless steel helical bar,together with stitching ties, stabilised the masonry and restored the continuity whichis lost when walls crack. Safeguard Bond-Aid plus was applied to the brickwork first,to avoid any possibility of the Helibond cementitious repair grout beingcontaminated by sulphates. We also undertook repairs to areas damaged by damp,using oldroyd XP plaster membrane, a proven material we’ve used many times..

In all, over 130M2 of contaminated and cracked plaster was removed and replaced.”

St Andrews’ vicar - Father Edward Woodcock is not your typical Minister (as hissinging answerphone message - well worth hearing - amply demonstrates) and,with a background in industrial relations, is not a man to mince his words:-

“Brick-Tie Preservation are a breath of fresh air! There's no what I call Builders'Bull**** with them. They solved the problem immediately - simple language,didn't patronise, straight down the line.”

Sacred Building“They said this is the problem, here's the solution and this is the cost. Deadstraight! They promised a specific timescale and the job was done in that time,even cleaning the church afterwards. Brilliant, highly satisfactory!”

Paul Hanson, a churchwarden with generations of knowledge about the church isequally enthusiastic…

“Brick-Tie Preservation recognise that a place of worship is sacred - especially tothe local community - and they consulted with us at every stage, ensuring the workwas completed between important religious occasions. St Andrews is now ready toserve the community for many decades to come!”

We decided to call in Brick-Tie Preservationbasically because they know what they're doing!

Once we'd got the experts in the problemwas sorted in just seven weeks...

“”

The PCA is the preservation industry's leadingtrade body - responsible for overseeing qualityand consumer protection. It also provides highlyspecialised training for members who wish toimprove their knowledge.

So it was all smiles for Brick-Tie Preservation at thePCA awards, as we received the ‘Highly Commended’award for training. When handing over the award,PCA general Manager, Steve Hodgson quoted theindependent judges as stating "It is impossible not tobe impressed by the energy and sheer enthusiasm thatBryan Hindle has for training".

"The PCA awards include categories for training,sustainability and innovation. Our award comes as a

result of our well establishedcommitment to ensure thateveryone in our company hasthe best opportunities tolearn new skills and improvethemselves. This in turnbrings real benefits for ourcustomers”, beamed Bryan - clutching his award inone hand and a bottle of free bubbly in the other.

Bryan has put the vintage champagne on one side andit will be given away free to one lucky newslettersubscriber. For a chance to win it, just visitwww.btpreservation.co.uk and subscribe to 'Insight'.

Facing page Brick-Tie technician Craig Tarbotton puts the finishingtouches to the project. Above “Isn’t it wonderful!” says Father Edward.Below Bryan explains how the HeliFix HeliBars do their job efficiently.

Property Care Awards - 2010.

Brick-Tie Limited, Unit 10, Lancaster Close, Sherburn In Elmet, Leeds LS25 6NS Tel: 0800 591541 • Web: www.btpreservation.co.uk • Email: info@bricktie.co.uk

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Coffee Time Challenge“Who played for both England and France on thesame afternoon at Wembley Stadium?”

A bottle of fine champagne is on offer for the first three correct entries selected on the closing date - Friday 24th September 2010.E-mail your answer to Bryan Hindle on bryan@bricktie.co.uk Thanks to Lagoon Group for the puzzle. Good Luck!

• Complete Building Preservation Services• Structural Repair and Waterproofing Services• Full Property Care Association Members• Wall Tie Installers Federation Members• Structural Waterproofing to BS8102 with GPI Protection

There was a time, when heavy rainfalldescended on Leeds, that John Hooper andpartner Pam had what amounted to a paddlingpool in their old basement conversion.

The couple, who live midway down a sloping terrace ofelegant stone built houses in Horsforth, bought theproperty in 2009...

“The floor was concrete, topped with chipboard andlaminate floored, but there was a dank and stuffyatmosphere” says John, who wanted to turn thebasement into a cosy music room.

RecommendedFollowing some torrential downpours the laminate floorbegan to warp and the chipboard was “soaked” - atwhich point John decided expert help was required:-“We got estimates from various people but the estateagent who sold us the property - recommended weinclude Brick-Tie Preservation in the quotation process.

Bryan Hindle provided the most thorough analysis of theproblem and discussed alternative solutions to solving it.It's very apparent he knows what he's talking about...”

Bryan explained why this not uncommon problemoccurs:- “The cellar had been lined with a plasticmembrane before plastering and flooring work had beencarried out; this didn't protect the cellar from water

below ground and water was seeping underthe floor and behind the linings, causingrot, mould and an unpleasant smell”.

Sump & Pump SolutionHe stressed that what some customersand contractors don't realise is that liningsystems don't protect basements by beingwaterproof; they simply act as a moisturemanagement system, diverting water outof the property. But without either aneffective drain point or pumping system,flooding is always a risk.

In John and Pam's case the vital sump and pump systemhad been omitted - leading inevitably to the problem...

Brick -Tie was able to salvage most of the wall finishesand bring the conversion up to standard by replacingthe floor and some wall areas together with theinstallation of a protective Safeguard ‘Sentry’ sumpand pump system, connected to safeguard ‘aquadrain’.

John and Pam were delighted with the whole project:-

“Bryan's team worked assiduously and cheerfully,ate a lot of cake, drank a lot of tea and completed thework on time and on cost!

It was a good, well-organised job and we've had noproblems since. We also have the assurance of a 10year fully insured guarantee.

Brick-Tie has given us not only a warm and cosymusic room - they've given us valuable extra livingspace and a net increase in our property's value.

We'd definitely recommend them...”

Thanks for all your interesting(!)attempts at our last competition.Winner was Rob Moon,Director of Bermar BuildingCompany of Bradford

Congratulations!www.bermarbuilding.co.uk

Adding space and value to a private property

“Here’s how it works...”Bryan explains a key

element of the drainagesystem to John Hooper

The soaked basement floor,before the remedial work