Why wall ties fail
Many Perth homes built before the 1980s used galvanised or mild steel wall ties. After decades in a damp cavity, and especially in salty coastal air around Fremantle, Cottesloe, Scarborough, Rockingham and Mandurah, they rust. Rust takes up several times the space of the original steel, so the ties swell and push the mortar joints apart. Eventually they snap.
Signs of wall tie failure
- Horizontal cracks in the mortar, often repeating every few courses
- Brickwork bulging or leaning outwards
- Cracks at the corners of the house or below the roof line
- Lifting of window sills or the roof plate on one side
- Rust stains coming through the mortar
How we replace wall ties
We confirm the problem first, checking the existing ties and the cavity. New Helifix stainless steel remedial ties are then drilled through the outer leaf into the inner leaf on a set grid. Each tie is either mechanically expanded or resin bonded, depending on the wall. Where old ties are causing cracking we isolate or remove them. Then the drill holes are filled and matched.
The work is done from outside, so there's no need to move out, and most homes take only days. We've installed wall ties for builders like Dale Alcock and on heritage sites such as Fremantle Cemetery for Northerly Construction.
Recent wall tie replacement work
