Surveys and inspections
AWT surveyors will undertake a building survey, which will entail a visual inspection of accessible external walls (with the use of binoculars) for evidence of surface cracking, splitting and opening up of joints, and other visual evidence of defects. Tie density will be established by locating existing wall ties with the help of a metal detector over a representative area of wall.

A limited visual inspection of the existing wall ties can be undertaken
by drilling 12mm holes in the outer leaf of the brickwork to view
inside the cavity with the use of an endoscope (all in accordance with
the Building Research Establishment BRE IP 13/90).
The AWT inspection will establish the wall’s substance: wall tie
density, type, condition and embedment. A report will then be produced
to simply explain the effectiveness and predicted remaining life
expectancy of the existing ties, in accordance with BRE 401, and to
make recommendations where remedial work is required.
Proposed remedial scheme
AWT’s proposed remedial works are base on, and in line with, Building Research Establishment Digest 401 recommendations.
Our
proposed remedial scheme will provide a viable repair through the
introduction of a pattern of remedial wall ties and, where necessary,
the isolation of existing wall ties to limit any future damage.
Wall tie deficiencies are treated with the introduction of remedial
ties, existing corroding mild steel vertical twist/fishtail type ties
are isolated from the masonry with a sleeve, and all are made good once
the remedial work has been completed.
• Remedial wall ties
In
line with our surveyor’s recommendations, our operatives will drill for
and fix proposed stainless steel remedial ties. Selected ties will be
“pull” tested to verify that minimum load requirements specified are
obtained before proceeding. Remedial ties will then be installed at a
density of 2½ ties per square metre to a recognised pattern, generally
diamond grid – 900mm horizontally and 450mm vertically (300mm
vertically to fenestration reveals). The disturbed areas will then be
re-pointed with coloured sand and cement mortar – All in accordance
with the Building Research Establishment Specification Digest 329.
• Existing tie treatment
The
existing corroded wall ties will be located and isolated by cutting
away the mortar joint around the old tie then fitting a plastic sleeve
filled with grease. This provides an environment where the old tie is
protected from moisture and submerged in grease, preventing any further
corrosion. Disturbed areas are re-pointed with coloured sand and cement
mortar.