As a wall tie specialist in Turton our staff members at Ascot Damp Proofing have become accustomed to answering questions from members of the public. As a company that specialises in the installation of replacement wall ties and preventing distortion and damage to masonry, we are qualified to answer a question that crops up frequently: “What are wall ties and why can they cause problems?”

In Turton, a wall tie specialist will tell you that ties are used in cavity walls. They are used to tie the internal and external wall together. A properly designed tie will make a cavity wall stronger and more stable and will also incorporate a feature that prevents water transfer from the outer wall. The problem arises with ties that were installed incorrectly or older ties made of galvanised steel. Over time these steel ties corrode and rust and become weaker. The corrosion forces the bricks apart causing serious horizontal cracks in the masonry. Frost can cause these cracks to widen further. If this is allowed to continue, a wall may collapse. As a rule, properties that are older than 10 to 20 years are likely to have steel wall ties that are vulnerable to corrosion. A specialist will be able to determine whether or not the cracks are in fact due to problems with cavity wall ties. If they are, professional individuals such as our staff members, using the right kind of specialist equipment, are able to accurately locate the wall ties and then identify the ones that are problematic. Once the ties have been isolated they can be replaced so that the wall is structurally sound once more.

If you require a Wall Tie Specialist in Turton call us at Ascot Damp Proofing where we are more than happy to provide advice or conduct a survey for you.