Brutons the Bakers is an independent family business. Originally established in 1898 by Harry Windsor Bruton, the bakery was managed by four generations of the ‘Bruton’ family before retirement in 2002, when the ‘Best’ family took over. One of seven stores in the chain, this Cardiff based bakery is a shop unit in one of the city’s main commercial areas. The owners noted cracking at the junction of the main front wall and both party walls at first floor level. Structural engineers monitored the cracks and concluded that movement was minimal and historic. Protectahome were then instructed by local building surveyors to provide a stabilisation solution for the popular store.

After a detailed survey, Protectahome’s surveyor produced a specification of remedial work that would reconnect the front wall with the two party walls utilising Helical bars embedded in the structure and extending 1.0m beyond either side of both cracks. Existing wall plaster was removed to reveal a lightweight block inner skin to the front wall. This skin had not been tied in and was completely independent of the brick built “rat trap bond” party walls. Large voids were also discovered at the junction of the front elevation and both party walls. Chases were cut into the bed joints using a diamond tipped cutter. 6mm Helibar was then fixed in place at 450mm centres using Helibond grout. The large voids were filled to bind the side walls with the front wall and the areas replastered. Work was completed with the minimum of disturbance by our own skilled workforce.