Cavity Wall Tie Replacement in Seaford and East Sussex
ALSO COVERING THE EASTBOURNE AND HASTINGS AREAS
Cavity walls have been used in construction for close to a century to provide properties with improved insulation and more protection against the elements. Achieved by joining two masonry leaves together with metal wall ties, originally made from mild steel with a protective bitumen layer, these early products were known as fishtails. More recently, wire butterfly alternatives have been used for cavity wall tie replacement work because the original coating wasn’t sufficient and would eventually corrode.
This was caused by rainwater penetration in the outer mortar leaf.
Some original cavity wall ties expanded to around seven times their thickness which caused mortar beds to crack and the outer leaf brickwork to bow. These conditions worsened in areas where properties were more exposed to harsh weather conditions, especially in coastal areas, or when black ash mortars were used because they contained a series of impurities.
Our company, located in the Polegate area of Eastbourne, is a cavity wall extraction and cavity wall tie replacement specialist for the East Sussex area.
Locations covered include Hastings and Seaford.
Cold or wet patches on the interior walls, cracked brickwork on exterior walls, and blistered plaster, paint and wallpaper are all signs of failed cavity wall insulation. If you notice any of these signs, please contact us immediately. A responsive approach to issues could save on the cost of long-term repairs.
Here, we look at cavity wall extraction and cavity wall tie replacement in closer detail so that you can gain a better understanding of what we do.
Cavity Wall Tie Replacement
Often used as interchangeable terms, brick ties and cavity wall ties are one and the same thing. These are long metal strips used to tie the inner and outer walls of a property together. The space between is what we refer to as the cavity wall or the cavity void. Properties affected by the failure of these long metal strips can benefit from our cavity wall tie replacement service.
Standard replacement cavity wall ties made from austenitic stainless steel will have widths of up to 110mm, making them suitable for most builds.
The cavity wall tie replacement process includes:
- A full borescope inspection to determine wall tie condition and length
- Low-impact drilling of the outer walls to reduce damage risks
- Insertion of the new cavity wall ties followed by a pull test
- Holes covered to match outer wall surfaces and preserve the façade
New cavity wall ties come with manufacturer warranties exceeding 20 years.
Keeping any home in Eastbourne, Hastings, Seaford and East Sussex dry and properly insulated will cut down on long-term building maintenance costs. A great way to optimise energy efficiency is to only use a trusted team of local contractors, like those at Fox, for loft insulation removal and installation, for cavity wall extraction and refilling, and cavity wall tie replacement services.
To arrange a survey and inspection of your cavity walls, or to ask a question about our wider range of services, please get in touch with us today.
We also specialise in the field of cavity wall extraction.