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Could A Cavity Wall Tie Survey Identify The Need For Underpinning_

For UK homes with cavity walls, cavity wall ties are used at the point of construction to secure both leaves of the wall together, and help the structure maintain stability. Although they were first used in the early 1900s, throughout the 20s, 30s and 40s, cavity walls were increasingly being used in home construction, and by the 1970s, cavity walls were virtually standard within the industry.

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Could A Cavity Wall Tie Survey Identify The Need For Underpinning_

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  1. Could A Cavity Wall Tie Survey Identify The Need For Underpinning?

  2. For UK homes with cavity walls, cavity wall ties are used at the point of construction to secure both leaves of the wall together, and help the structure maintain stability. Although they were first used in the early 1900s, throughout the 20s, 30s and 40s, cavity walls were increasingly being used in home construction, and by the 1970s, cavity walls were virtually standard within the industry. Unfortunately, cavity wall ties used in older properties invariably start to fail (often due to corrosion) and need replacing, and if you’re concerned about the wall ties in your home (particularly if it’s an older property), you can arrange for a professional wall tie survey.

  3. What does a wall tie survey entail? Trained surveyors check whether the wall ties in a property are functioning properly by means of an intrusive, or non-intrusive survey. For properties in which insulation has been injected into the cavity wall, an intrusive (or invasive) survey will likely be necessary, which means that the ties must be identified visually through manual means, i.e. removing the bricks, and replacing them as and when necessary.

  4. In a non-intrusive (or non-invasive) survey, a fiber optic camera or endoscope can be used to inspect wall ties once they have been identified, which is done by drilling a small series of holes into the brickwork to enable the viewing device to be inserted. What might a wall tie survey uncover? Sadly, in spite of their importance to the structure of any building, it’s rare that cavity wall ties are correctly installed, leading to their failure some years down the line, and the detection thereof, during a wall tie survey. In addition to poor methods of installation, wall ties frequently corrode, especially for properties in coastal areas.

  5. Left unrepaired, failing wall ties can cause masonry panels to collapse and render a building unsound from a structural perspective. Should the surveyors detect cracks in the property’s structure, there could be a few factors at play, and it’s important to recognize that cavity wall ties aren’t always the main culprit. Foundational issues may be the cause of external cracks in walls, and a survey may highlight the need for a procedure known as underpinning.

  6. What exactly is underpinning? If you’ve begun to notice cracks appearing around some doors or windows (or both), or a door has suddenly started sticking, these could be indicators that the foundations of your home are no longer strong enough to support the entire property, and a process known as underpinning may be required. During this process, a building’s foundation depth is increased, and existing soil is removed before being replaced with a material such as concrete. A home being older, a property in which the existing structure has changed (such as an extra level being added), the soil upon which the foundations sit having altered, and repeated flooding, are all factors known to impact the structural integrity of a building.

  7. In general, underpinning is usually carried out using one of the following methods: Mass concrete or mass pour Soil strengthening Beam and base Screw piles and brackets ● ● ● ●

  8. Foundational issues that require underpinning may be identified during a cavity wall tie inspection, or during a property survey, such as those that are carried out in the event of buying or selling a house. If cracks in your external walls are caused by something other than the foundation of your home, a cavity wall tie or property survey should identify the problem and determine the best cause of action to preserve the property and ensure its structural integrity.

  9. Underpinning is a process that requires great skill, knowledge and experience, and as such, should only ever be carried out by those qualified to do so. NorthWest Wall Ties is a small family-run wall tie company based out of the heart of the Northwest. We specialize in offering wall ties for brick and high-quality workmanship that is designed to last. We have been in business for over 20 years, and our experienced team of professionals has provided countless customers with reliable and affordable wall tie solutions. If you are looking for wall tie replacement companies, contact Northwest Wall Ties at 01942 933821 or email:northwestwallties@yahoo.com.

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