Could Failing Wall Ties Be Responsible For Penetrating Damp In Your Home?

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Could Failing Wall Ties Be Responsible For
Penetrating Damp In Your Home?
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• While wall ties themselves are not capable of
  causing penetrating damp, should they have been
  fitted improperly, not be of a high enough
  quality, or have begun to corrode, there is every
  chance that they could go on to cause structural
  issues, which in turn, can lead to problems with
  damp. But what is penetrating damp?
• Penetrating damp explained
• When moisture, such as rainwater, moves to a
  buildings interior from its exterior, this is
  known as penetrating damp. Occurring when
  moisture has an impact on an outside wall and
  starts to be absorbed by the building materials
  (bricks are very porous), penetrating damp arises
  from saturated walls.

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• Unfortunately, rain can penetrate into the
  masonry of pretty much any property, regardless
  of its age, and if the problem is severe, youll
  be able to see a patch of damp on an interior
  wall which can cause paint and wallpaper to peel
  or flake off, or become discoloured. If left
  untreated, penetrating damp can result in the
  growth of mould and mildew, the spores of which
  can be highly harmful to humans and pets.
• Even when moisture isnt fully penetrated into a
  wall, it can still cause problems such as moss
  growth and frost damage, and increase the loss of
  heat from the building.

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• Water penetration and cavity wall ties
• In some instances, wall ties that havent been
  installed correctly can give rainwater a clear
  path through to a cavity wall, where it will
  proceed to penetrate the brickwork and start to
  cause all manner of problems.
• To try and stop damp from getting into the walls
  of a building, cavitys are constructed, but when
  the wall ties that connect the two rows of
  brickwork are deteriorating or damaged, thats
  when damp can start to creep in. If your home has
  a problem with penetrating damp but doesnt have
  cavity walls, then you can safely assume that
  something else is responsible for allowing the
  water through.

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• Should you schedule a cavity wall tie survey?
• Most reputable companies specialising in wall tie
  repair and replacement, recommend that structures
  built with a cavity wall and pre-dating 1980,
  undergo a wall tie survey or inspection. This
  will help determine whether any damage has
  occurred, such as rusting, and whether any of the
  wall ties need to be replaced to protect the
  buildings structural integrity. Its worth
  noting that if your property has experienced a
  high level of wall tie corrosion or damage, and
  the wall itself has begun to bulge outward, the
  wall may have to be dismantled in its entirety,
  and re-built.
• Clearly, preventative action is always going to
  be a more effective and quite possibly, cheaper
  solution.

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• What to do if a survey highlights issues with
  your cavity wall ties
• Firstly, its important not to panic. Your
  existing wall ties can easily be replaced by a
  professional company to prevent any further
  damage to the wall, and you can talk through your
  wall tie options with the surveyor. Nowadays, you
  can choose from galvanised wall ties that are
  designed to limit corrosion, and there are even
  options for reducing damp, in the form of a Frame
  Cramp wall Tie with Drip.

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• Ultimately, cavity wall ties are an integral
  feature of many homes throughout the UK, and as a
  result of this, are absolutely worth protecting
  and replacing should the need arise.
• To protect your home and maintain its structural
  stability, talk to a local wall tie replacement
  company about scheduling an inspection.

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• NorthWest Wall Ties is a small family-run wall
  tie company based out of the heart of the
  Northwest. We specialize in offering cavity wall
  ties and high-quality workmanship that is
  designed to last. We have been in business for
  over 20 years, and our experienced team of
  professionals has provided countless customers
  with reliable and affordable wall tie solutions.
  If you are looking for cavity wall tie
  replacement, contact Northwest Wall Ties at
  01942 933821 or emailnorthwestwallties_at_yahoo.com.