Cavity Wall Ties - likely cost

Splott_Boy

Our Homebuyers Report suggests we check these on our proposed property purchase. It seems to be common advice which makes me wonder if its a standard proviso if the concrete render is showing early signs off cracking.

Lets assume its a reasonable suggestion - how much have people ended up paying to have these replaced. Couple of thousand, tens of thousands ? I realise it will depend on wall size etc.

I've seen someone mention £6k when I've searched for references to this issue. Any others done it ?

chappers

This is something that has cropped up in recent years and most times is just scaremongering however there have been problems with incorrect fitting of wall ties. most of the time everything will be fine.
Whilst I have no real idea,from experience, as to how much it might cost to replace wall ties, as a builder I would see the process involving removing removing blocks/bricks from both skins of a wall and inserting new ties. Can't see it being a cheap process

Dan29

Hi Splott Boy

We're in Cardiff and paid £1375+VAT to have the wall ties in our end terrace house replaced by Protectahome a couple of years ago. We saw some of the existing wall ties once they'd been removed and they were definitely corroded which means they could have been expanding the joints between bricks.

When having yours checked I would say don't pay for a survey as most wall tie replacement companies will do one for free. However they obviously have a vested interest in telling you the work needs doing!

Splott_Boy

Thanks both !

maninthestreet

How are wall ties actually replaced without taking down a wall completely??

BobProperty

maninthestreet wrote: »

How are wall ties actually replaced without taking down a wall completely??

The system IIRC consists of drilling holes from the outside (usually) into the inner leaf of brickwork and putting in a device like an expanding bolt.
http://www.anchor-tie.co.uk/callcavity.php
Look at the diagram, not the sales blurb

leedshatter

We have just had a quote. Our house is a 3 bed detached with rendering. We were quoted £1050 incl VAT (Bradford based company, we are in Leeds)

poppysarah

maninthestreet wrote: »

How are wall ties actually replaced without taking down a wall completely??

Don't they just put new ones in?

Danielle352002

I have just been quoted £2,500 for a 3meter by 2 meter piece of wall which is on the external wall of my house. It is that part only and is quite high up on the third floor. This quote os excluding the scaffolding!
Is this expensive.. Seems a lot to me!

mummytofour

Danielle352002 wrote: »

I have just been quoted £2,500 for a 3meter by 2 meter piece of wall which is on the external wall of my house. It is that part only and is quite high up on the third floor. This quote os excluding the scaffolding!
Is this expensive.. Seems a lot to me!

Based on what other ppl have said it sounds a lot to me. But then if your down south ( where I am) we seem to get ripped of for everything!

Get at least 2 more quotes IMHO.

chainsaw

I did some research on the net and you can buy 150 replacement wall ties for £130. I am guessing that as they are sold in packs of 150 that is enough to do an average size house. I am sure the work could be done in a day by two men.

So the question is how much is it reasonable to charge for the labour, insurrance guarantee, profit and so on and I would say anything over £1500 is too much but I supose it depends on the going rate.

I should say I have knocked a lot of holes in walls over the years and never seen a rusty rotted tie yet. A friend of mine had an inspection of his ties done with a camera and was told they were rusty as proved by the camera seeing just one rusty tie!! He got out his hammer and chisel removed a couple of bricks and took out the tie showing that it was not rusty at all.