Newtownabbey · County Antrim
Wall tie replacement in Newtownabbey
Plenty of cavity-walled houses, in Newtownabbey as elsewhere, were built when galvanised steel ties were standard, and those ties are now reaching the end of their life. A survey shows whether yours are sound, thinning or actively swelling and cracking the brickwork.
Guide price from£1,600per house inc VAT
- Postcodes
- BT15, BT36, BT37
- Population
- about 64,000
- Area
- County Antrim
- Pricing region
- Northern Ireland
Is County Antrim prone to ground movement?
Newtownabbey is in County Antrim and takes in postcode districts BT15, BT36, BT37. About 64,000 people live there. We also take enquiries from nearby Belfast (4 miles), Carrickfergus (6 miles) and Lisburn (11 miles).
Shrinkable clay is less common in County Antrim than in south-east England. Historic brine and salt working has caused ground movement in parts of County Antrim in the past. Across County Antrim, most homes are red-brick terraces in Belfast, Victorian villas, and post-war and newer estates.
What happens during wall tie replacement, step by step?
Tie survey
A metal detector locates the existing ties and shows their pattern. Small holes are then drilled at sample points and a borescope passed into the cavity to see the tie condition, type and embedment. The holes are made good afterwards.
Access
Ties are fitted across the whole of each affected elevation, so scaffold or a tower is usually needed above ground floor. We plan access around conservatories, extensions, neighbours’ land and any parking that must be suspended.
Install the new ties
New stainless ties are drilled and fixed to the specified grid, with closer spacing around windows, doors and the roofline. Sample ties can be pull-tested to confirm they are holding in your particular brick and block.
What to look for before calling about wall tie replacement
- A house built before the 1980s on an exposed or coastal site
- The roof edge or verge lifting slightly above the brickwork
- Cracked render with a regular horizontal pattern
Wall tie replacement prices in Newtownabbey
For Newtownabbey we use Northern Ireland rates. Treat the table as a budget guide, inc VAT; the price you pay is the one on your written quote.
| Item | Guide price | Per |
|---|---|---|
| Mid-terrace houseest. | £1,600 – £3,100 | per house |
| Semi-detached house | £2,200 – £4,400 | per house |
| Detached houseest. | £3,100 – £6,150 | per house |
| Scaffolding where neededest. | £530 – £1,600 | per elevation |
How we usually approach wall tie replacement
Partial rebuild of the outer leaf
If a section of the outer leaf has bulged too far to be tied back, it is carefully taken down and rebuilt with new ties built in as the work goes up. This is uncommon, and is usually limited to a gable top, a parapet or a panel under a window.
Best for: Outer leaf too distorted to tie back safely
Removing old ties and rebedding
On badly cracked elevations the old ties are cut out from the outer face, the joints raked and rebedded, and the brickwork repointed. It is more work than isolation but removes the source of expansion entirely. An engineer or the survey report usually specifies where this is needed.
Best for: Elevations with severe cracking or lifting
Rules for wall tie replacement in Northern Ireland
In Northern Ireland, minor repairs usually need no approval, but structural work comes under the Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 and council building control. There is no Party Wall Act in Northern Ireland.
Questions about wall tie replacement in Newtownabbey
What is the price of wall tie replacement in Newtownabbey?
Guide prices for wall tie replacement in Newtownabbey start from about £1,600 per house, including VAT, on Northern Ireland rates. Your fixed written price follows photos or a survey and depends on the extent of the work and access.
Do you carry out wall tie replacement in Newtownabbey?
We do. Newtownabbey and the surrounding area are covered, including nearby Belfast and Carrickfergus. A free initial assessment from your photos is the first step.
Does the ground around Newtownabbey cause cracking?
County Antrim is largely basalt over chalk, with soft estuarine 'sleech' along Belfast Lough that is notorious for settlement. Historic salt mining is recorded near Carrickfergus. Only an investigation can say why a particular building has moved.
Is wall tie failure covered by insurance?
Usually not, because insurers treat it as gradual deterioration. Damage caused by a sudden event, such as part of a wall collapsing in a storm, may be treated differently under some policies. Check your policy wording, and tell your insurer if you are unsure.
Which houses are most at risk of wall tie failure?
Cavity-walled houses built before the 1980s are most at risk, especially those with mild steel ties, black ash mortar or an exposed position. Coastal and hilltop houses, and elevations facing the prevailing weather, tend to fail first.
More repairs we carry out in Newtownabbey
- Brick arch repairs
- Extension pulling away repairs
- Gable end wall repairs
- Subsidence repairs
- Retaining wall repairs
Wall tie replacement near Newtownabbey
Send photos of any horizontal cracking at your Newtownabbey property and we will tell you whether a wall tie survey looks worthwhile.