Ceiling repairs

Grade II* listed building with deterioration of the Barlow Rails (Barlow Rails were a rolled rail section originally used in railways in the 19th Century, they were not suitable for the railway so were used in construction for joists). The Barlow Rails are heavily corroded with loose delaminated metal which is able to be pulled away by hand, as they have rusted they have sufficient force to split and lift masonry. Cracks are present across encaustic tiled floor above the cellar and in the surrounding walls. The expansion of the rails and subsequent movement of the floor has distorted non-structural partitions including doors.

The Barlow Rails have reached the end of their life, these are listed in the Grade II* listing, as are the floor tiles above. Any repair works to these areas must be designed and executed being mindful of the heritage value of the building. Keeping this in mind, whilst it is possible to introduce further new galvanised steel beams below the floor to secure the first floor in place, without disturbing the toilet area above, unfortunately any repair of this floor will require the Barlow Rails to be fully exposed, by means of grit-blasting, and taken back to bare metal (if any bare metal remains) then being coated with a protective paint to reduce/remove the risk of further deterioration causing damage to the surrounding structure.

Once the floor is repaired and secured, it will need fire protecting.

All rebuilt stonework must be properly laid to prevent large areas of mortar between units. Traditionally built stone walls to be repaired/rebuilt using stone to match the existing wall construction, set in a cement free lime mortar (1:3:1 lime : well graded clean sand : earth - clean local sub-soil free of organic material).

Materials and workmanship must comply with the requirements of BS5950; part 2 and the national structural steelwork specification.

A full tender report is available from Claire Sheppard, Estates Manager at Harveys Foundry Trust on claire@harveysfoundrytrust.org.uk