Strengthening

The apartment block Olympus at 280 Oriental Parade has been identified as being earthquake prone  by Wellington City Council and needing strengthening. Erected in the 1930s' over four levels with a total of eight units. Holmes Construction have been brought in to undertake works on the structure. The building is  plastered double brick cavity. The solution to strengthening is to remove the chimneys at roof level  dowel the walls to provide a more rigid structure, remove the lift walls and replace with a timber structure. The technique of dowelling involves the walls being drilled right through and then a steel bar inserted and glued in position. The glue bonding makes a rigid element through the wall. On top of these issues the reinforcing bars have started to rust expanding and causing the concrete to spall. This requires the exposing of the reinforcing bars, removal of the rust and then replastering. Lack of maintenance i.e. not painting the exterior keeping the water out is essential, many people do not realise that concrete is porous and needs to be sealed to prevent wateregress. So not painting is a very short sigthed economy when a few years down the track major repairs works are needed. Work has now commenced on removal of the chimneys. Chimneys pots now removed, main part of flues currently in place. 20 June 2015. Building being tidied up for handover back to owners. Total costs @ $500,000 including a new lift.