Wall Tie Check

Guru86

Good Morning,

We have just had our homebuyers report arrive and nothing too bad. Limited damp reading check DPC (as per usual), check certificates etc


The only thing that is urgent is a wall tie check. It doesn't say there are any signs of them failing however it states due to the age of the property to have this done before exchange of contracts. The house was built in 1935 and is a semi-detached house with render.


If further states on report it cannot be certain if it even is a cavity wall due to the render and without taking bricks away.


Can anyone advise if this actually needs a check urgently or if it is a general remark they put on homebuyers reports these days?


Also any experience for cost of wall tie survey and work to replace?


Cheers

stator

Ask the vendors if they have had it checked recently?
Ask your mortgage lender if they require you to have the wall ties checked before they will lend?
You can usually tell by the thickness of the walls if they are cavity or not. Also look for signs of cavity wall insulation.
If it's 1935 and private built it probably has a cavity. If it's council built then maybe, maybe not.

societys_child

Can anyone advise if this actually needs a check urgently or if it is a general remark they put on homebuyers reports these days?

My personal opinion is they have to cover their backs.
When a wall tie rusts it expands and forces the bricks apart slightly. This is usually evident as a hairline crack in the render, along that course of brickwork.
However a crack in the render does not necessarily mean the ties are failing, they could just be stress cracks, caused by cold/heat/ age.

Elsewhere

Two possible ways of telling if it is a cavity wall - the thickness of the walls (how deep are the windowsills, for instance), or, if it's possible, go up into the attic and take a look at the top of the wall where it meets the roof or put your arm down between the rafters and have a grope around. Or since it's a semi, how about asking the neighbour?

FreeBear

Or if it is like my 1929 build home, cavity walls on the ground floor, solid walls on the upper half. Drilling a small hole through the wall is by far the easiest way to find out - It only needs to be 6-10mm and can be plugged with mortar once done.

Guru86

Thanks for advice.

We have had mortgage offer through and doesn't mention anything about it so guess they not fussed

I'll speak to vendors about cavity wall insulation see if they can shed some light on it.

red_imps_2003

When we sold our early 20th century mid-terrace a few months back the survey apparently indicated the wall ties should be checked (again, cracks in the mortar aroused suspicions). A basic visual inspection was inconclusive so they had to remove a couple of bricks and stick a camera in there to check. I think this inspection cost the buyers in the region of £400. It turns out there were no issues with the wall ties, if that is of any comfort. Neighbours down the road who had remedial work done a few years back indicated it wasn't expensive, although I didn't like to ask even for ballpark figures.

I have to say, when I got home from work I couldn't tell where the inspection work had been done.

Guru86

Thanks hopefully it isnt too bad if it does go.

I have emailed surveyor asking to clarify and will ask solicitor to check with sellers when I call tomorrow.

Thanks so far

Kcobain4

Hi (first post on the forum)

We got the homebuyers report back last week as well and except the usual gas,electricity etc the only 3 was on the wall ties. The surveyor just mentioned that there are signs of wall tie corrosion in the main walls, nothing more about what are these signs.
After calling him up to ask for more info, he said he thought the side elevation showed some bulging.
In any case just got an approved contractor (member of wall tie association or something like that), and they will do a survey to determine the condition of the wall ties according to a BRE classification scale. The survey and quote costs £165 inc. VAT.
The weird part is that the lender didn't mention anything about it in their valuation.

The property is detached 3 bed built in 1978.

As FTB my question might be a bit daft, but am I right to ask for a price reduction in case remedial works are required for the wall ties?

Argghhh

Does te EPC report not mention if it is a cavity wall?

stator

Argghhh wrote: »

Does te EPC report not mention if it is a cavity wall?

I wouldn't rely on that. I've seen plenty of incorrect EPC reports.

If the wall ties need fixing then yes you might want to negotiate a reduction in price, but be prepared for them to say no.