Cavity Wall Tie Replacement
The majority of houses built over the last century are of cavity wall construction: the external walls are built with two leaves of brickwork which is ‘tied’ together with cavity wall ties. This design of wall makes for a warmer and drier home than the older solid brick construction as the cavity can be insulated and the outer skin protects the inner skin from the elements.
Cavity Wall Tie Showing Signs Of Decay, Note The Rust That Has Caused The Wall Tie To Expand.
The problem associated with cavity wall construction lie with the wall ties, houses built prior to 1980 often used mild steel cavity wall ties in their construction, this type of wall tie has the tendency to rust especially in the outer leaf of brickwork, this can lead to horizontal cracking and bowing of the brickwork, in some cases this can lead to the failure of the wall ties causing structural damage to the walls and walls collapsing. Thankfully most houses built since 1980 have used stainless or heavily galvanised cavity wall ties in their construction, these wall ties do not rust in the same way.
Decayed Wall Ties Being Isolated From Causing Further Damage
Mild Steel ‘Fishtail’ Wall Tie Exposed During Survey, In Good Condition
Correct Surveying Methods Are Essential To Prevent Unnecessary Works
The majority of houses built prior to 1980 stand a good chance of having some degree of decay to their wall ties and should be inspected, the main tell tale signs of cavity wall tie failure are, horizontal cracking of the mortar beds and slight bulging of wall surfaces, in extreme cases cracks can appear on internal plasterwork but this is rare.
Should you suspect you have a problem with your Cavity Wall Ties and need some advice, don’t hesitate to contact us on 0191 4159471, or fill out our contact form