Cavity wall ties are the unseen supports holding the walls of a building together. They are an essential yet invisible element of building construction, providing stability and ensuring that walls don’t collapse.
Despite their importance, cavity wall ties are rarely top of maintenance lists for homeowners; most of us don’t even realise they’re there! In this article, we explain what cavity wall ties are and what they are used for.
What are Cavity Wall Ties?
Cavity wall ties are metal strips or metal rods used to connect walls together, providing structural support to walls and to a building as a whole.
Cavity wall ties are placed between the inner and outer walls of a home (the space in between the two layers is called the cavity, and it’s there primarily for insulation). These thin metal rods connect the two layers together, essentially holding them up.
Given how important this sounds, you might be surprised to see just how thin cavity wall ties are. However they’re produced from incredibly strong metal alloys, with steel or zinc being the most common.
Why are Cavity Wall Ties so Important?
It’s always necessary for broken or damaged cavity wall ties to be replaced, because the role they provide is vital to a building.
Cavity wall ties hold the bricks of the two layers of a wall together, allowing the wall to stand as one firm unit rather than two individual sections. This provides an excellent level of structural support for a property as a whole, and stops structural instability or collapses from occurring.
Cavity wall ties also enable better insulation, allowing a building to be managed in an energy-efficient manner. They help to maintain proper ventilation by keeping the cavity wall space supported, which helps to avoid a build-up of moisture or damp between the walls.
What is Cavity Wall Tie Failure?
Homeowners need to look out for broken or damaged cavity wall ties that are the result of cavity wall tie failure.
Cavity wall tie failure can result in broken masonry, loose tiles and, in extreme cases, total collapse of walls. If broken wall ties aren’t replaced, the consequences can even be deadly.
While cavity wall tie failure can be the result of improper installation or poor brickwork, in the vast majority of cases failure is down to corrosion and rusting. Cavity wall ties are metal and therefore prone to corrosion when subjected to water.
This is a natural process. Regardless how well your home is damp-proofed, it can’t be stopped entirely; it can only be delayed. For this reason, it’s good to know what signs might indicate that cavity wall ties need replacing.
If you notice any of the following, contact a professional for a survey. They can identify the extent of the wall tie failures and recommend solutions for replacements.
● Cracks in the mortar caused by an expansion of cavity wall ties.
● Walls bulging outwards as a result of broken cavity wall ties.
Loose brickwork or, in severe cases, a collapse.
Danford Brewer & Ives is a Ripon based company that operates in the North East and specialises in cavity wall tie replacement. For more information and advice on cavity wall ties, please contact our friendly team on 01765 804050 or fill in our online contact form. Our experienced professionals will be on hand and ready to offer expert advice tailored to resolve your problem.