Over time, even the most well-designed buildings can start to fail, sometimes surprisingly. Weather affects buildings more than anything else, but subsidence and changes in the surrounding environments can also affect the length of time a building could survive. If subsidence, water damage, cracked walls, or any other issue like this begins to affect your home, it could be a scary prospect.
However, there are plenty of things you can do both before and during any particular issue like this. In this article, we will discuss exactly that: some innovative solutions that can help make your house stronger and last longer. Whether you already have a problem with your house’s structure or not, these tips could well come in handy in the future. Read on to find out everything you need to know about structurally protecting your home.
Foam Insulation
One of the top home improvement solutions developed recently is spray polyurethane foam or SPF. Developers of specialist spray foam insulation ASI Foam describe it as “a spray-applied plastic that can form a continuous insulation and air sealing barrier on walls, roofs, and on all contoured surfaces.” Basically, it’s a mixture of liquid components that, when sprayed onto a surface, react to form a foam.
This foam develops and then hardens very quickly when mixed. Which makes it an incredible sealant, insulator, and waterproofing method for roofs and corners. This not only protects your home from the wet and wind but also helps to keep heat in, making your house more energy-efficient.
This means you’re not only making your house stronger, but you’re also saving yourself money in the long term! This kind of foam is perfect for filling irregular or hard-to-reach gaps, keeping out pests, and keeping your home a little quieter. All in all, it seems like a great solution for any unwanted cracks or gaps in your home.
Brick Waterproofing
Lots of our homes have external walls that are made of exposed brickwork. These are not always treated against the elements, meaning you could one day find your home with decaying brickwork and loose pointing. To avoid this situation and to keep your brick nice and strong, you would need to treat it with a façade cream or shield. These specially formulated products help to keep moisture from permeating brickwork, as believe it or not, brick and mortar aren’t fully waterproof. Treat the outside walls to ensure you stay dry and the bricks stay solid for many, many years to come.
Install Double Glazing
This may seem obvious, but if you live in an older home or development, you may not be blessed with double-glazed windows. The issue with old, single-paned glass is that it never quite forms a proper seal. The windows are never draft proof and most have begun leaking as they have aged. The materials for old single glazing frames are not up to scratch with today’s standards. Modern double glazing made of plastic and glass creates a perfect seal, keeping your walls and windowsills dry and protected for years to come.
FRP Sheeting
If you have discovered structural faults or failings within a building like your home, the use of Fibre-Reinforced Polymer (FRP sheets) can help to reinforce structures. If weight-bearing walls or columns are found to have cracks or faults due to long-term usage, they can become a danger to you and your family. In this case, wrapping them in FRP sheeting can help manage the load, helping them bear more weight and stay stronger for longer. The materials that make FRP sheets are designed to be super high strength under pressure, making them perfect for this kind of task.
Bonded Steel
Finally, let’s talk about steel reinforcement. There’s a reason that steel is used in everything from a kitchen extension to Manhattan skyscrapers, it’s really, really tough! Steel can withhold pressures of around 40,000 pounds of force per square inch (40,000 PSI). This makes steel the perfect material to restore dangerously damaged structures in your home.
When severe structural faults are discovered – or want to be prevented before they happen – you can use bonded steel. Steel will be affixed to your walls using both mechanical fastenings and bonding adhesives, making it basically become a permanent part of your wall, making them hundreds of times stronger and less susceptible to further permanent damage.
So, there you have it, our five top tips for making your house strong and longer-lasting. It is important to keep on top of these things to avoid disasters at home. Plus, it’s always nice to feel safe in the knowledge that your home will stand strong for a long time!
