If you’re a homeowner, there are numerous issues of on-going maintenance that you’re probably conscious of. If you live in a plastered home, regular external painting is probably quite high on your list. Then there’s the matter of the roof, and you might be good at having regular inspections to ensure that the tiles or other roof covering are still in place, along with the good repair of flashings and trusses. The list of necessary home maintenance can be long and expensive, but you’ve probably been correctly advised that attending to problems early on will save you money in the long run. However, if you’re suddenly informed you should arrange for an inspection of wall ties in your Brighton home; this might take you by surprise. Many people aren’t even aware that they have wall ties, and this is probably because they’re deeply buried and hidden in the walls – but they may create an issue just the same.
What are wall ties and why would they need replacing?
Many UK homes from the last century were built using cavity walls. In essence, this meant that two walls were constructed, creating a cavity between them. It’s a similar concept to double-glazed windows – having a space between two pieces of glass or between two walls has the effect of preventing heat loss. In the case of walls, the two structures are tied together at regular intervals using ties that were usually made of metal. Of course, metal corrodes, so it’s possible that your wall ties might need replacing. At present, there are millions of homes in the UK that have become aware that their metal wall ties are failing. Replacing these timeously can prevent major rebuilding that might be required otherwise.
Having a wall tie survey conducted
The best bet in this type of situation is to arrange for an inspection. You can start to look yourself to see whether there are cracks in a wall that might be caused by a corroded wall tie. Even a bulge or a defect in a wall might signal a problem. If you are in the process of selling your home, you might be asked to conduct a survey, as it’s becoming clear to future home owners that they need to know if there’s a problem with wall ties before concluding a purchase. Visit here to get more details.
The actual procedure is fairly simple and doesn’t require a lot of time. A surveyor will quickly see whether there is a cavity wall, and will then also look for cracks or bulges. Most likely, a metal detector will be used to find some wall ties. Once a few have been located, it will be necessary to drill into the wall to reach the wall tie for a proper inspection. The surveyor should have the necessary scope to see the condition of the wall tie clearly, and should even allow you as the homeowner to view it as well, should you wish to do so.
Conducting a wall tie inspection for your Brighton home might be cost-saving in the long run. Contact Cavitytech Systems Ltd, who will send an expert surveyor to inspect your home.