Wall ties have been used since the 18th century to tie the inner and outer leaves of walls together. In the UK they have been in common use for most types of construction since the early 1900's.

Early wall ties were either treated with a bitumen coating or galvanised prior to installation to protect against corrosion. However, wall tie age, mortar type, climate and exposure to the atmosphere can all result in deterioration and eventual failure of the wall tie.

Wall tie corrosion can lead to significant structural problems and may in extreme circumstances, require the complete replacement of the outer leaf of brickwork. However, in many cases wall tie replacement offers a cost-effective repair option, which involves minimal disruption to occupants.

HCL can supply a full support service to clients and their agents. This includes a range of levels of survey from one offering simple confirmation of the problem through to a detailed investigation survey highlighting condition and type of ties, density of installation and recommended remedial actions.

The choice of remedial wall tie used for any replacement application will depend on the inner and outer leaf materials and the degree of failure present in the existing ties.

Old ties must be treated to prevent them from causing any further cracking or structural damage. In extreme circumstances, the complete removal of the old wall tie will be required but other less disruptive techniques are now common place. All work is completed from the outside with brickwork repairs carried out to achieve as close a match to the original as possible.