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What Does a Wall Tie Do?
If you work in the construction and building industry or are renovating your property then you may have come across wall ties, but what exactly do they do?
Wall ties are used within cavity walls when a building is being constructed, to join the external and internal leaves together. They ensure that the building is stable, and therefore play a vital role in the strength of the infrastructure. When wall ties are not installed correctly, the infrastructure can become weak and damp. Even though they are relatively small, they can make a huge impact!
Generally, wall ties are strips or bars of metal, manufactured out of stainless steel to resist against corrosion. When a wall is being built, wall ties act as a key component, to join both leaves of the cavity together. As the walls tend to be free-standing, there can be a lot of structural movement, especially from strong winds. The ties provide internal support, reducing the amount of movement between the two leaves, and further preventing moisture from reaching the internal wall.
When the wall ties are installed, they are embedded at consistent intervals, to ensure the walls are supported. The ends of the wall tie are locked in with mortar, to not only secure them in place but to keep them hidden. There will be hundreds of wall ties used within a building's infrastructure, so it is important to keep them discreet, to prevent unattractive sights!
There are many wall ties available to purchase, and they can be used with a range of cavity walls made from brick, timber, and steel. Below we have listed the types of wall ties that you can find, and what they are useful for.
Types of Wall Ties
Masonry to Timber
Masonry to timber wall ties are used to attach inner timber structures to an external brick wall. The main purpose of this tie is to reduce the amount of movement between the brick and timber by absorbing it.
Masonry to Masonry
These ties secure two cavity walls together, to form one unit. They are generally manufactured with a change in shape, such as a twist in the centre of the tie, to prevent water from moving across the metal. This helps to keep the internal wall dry.
Lateral Restraint Ties
Lateral restraint ties are used to restrain a wall that is bowing, securing it to other elements of the structure. They can be installed in pre-existing or new walls, to prevent sideways movement between the wall and other structures.
Movement Ties
Movement ties secure masonry walls to other masonry structures or steel, to allow movement in one direction but not the other. They are designed with a debonding sleeve, which covers the side of the tie which is embedded in the wall. This allows the tie to move within the sleeve, allowing the masonry to expand or contract, whilst remaining restrained against lateral winds.
Remedial Wall Ties
Most wall ties are installed in the construction of a building, however, if they have not been used, remedial wall ties can be used instead. Remedial ties are used in existing cavity walls, where the original ties have corroded, or no ties have been installed at all.
Wall Starter Ties
Similar to remedial ties, starter ties are used to join new walls to pre-existing structures. They are usually used to extend an existing structure however, for restoration projects, they can also help to create an additional wall where a cavity is needed.
Our Best Selling Wall Ties
We have an extensive range of wall ties available on our website, including all the types which are listed above, however, we do have a few which have grown to be our customer's favourites!
Our frame cramp wall ties are a type of lateral restraint, to prevent sideways movement between a wall and another structure. They are available in both stainless and galvanised steel, so you can select the most suitable type for your construction project.
Supplied as a whole set with insulation clips and a wall plug, these cavity screw ties are used for an internal or external leaf to a single skin building.
These timber frame ties are used to secure masonry to timber, particularly useful for attaching an outer brick wall to an inner timber frame. They are supplied in boxes of 250 and complete with stainless steel annular ring nails.
Please feel free to browse our large selection of wall ties or other fixing and fastening products on our website. If you have any questions about our product selection, contact us on 03330 117818 or email info@bsfixings.co.uk, and our team will be more than happy to help!
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