Oldham · Greater Manchester
Wall tie replacement in Oldham
The first clue to failing wall ties in Oldham is usually a crack pattern: fine horizontal lines every few courses on one elevation. We confirm what is happening inside the cavity with a metal detector and borescope before recommending any new ties.
Guide price from£1,750per house inc VAT
- Postcodes
- OL1, OL8, OL9
- Population
- about 240,000
- Area
- Greater Manchester
- Pricing region
- North West
Is Greater Manchester prone to ground movement?
Oldham (OL1, OL8, OL9) has around 240,000 residents and sits in Greater Manchester. Nearby places we cover include Middleton (3 miles), Ashton-under-Lyne (4 miles) and Rochdale (6 miles).
Greater Manchester has a mix of ground, with clay in some places and firmer rock in others. Parts of Greater Manchester lie on a former coalfield, so a coal mining search is worth checking if movement has no obvious cause. Housing stock in Greater Manchester: Red-brick terraces, mill-town stone terraces, inter-war semis and post-war estates.
What should you budget for wall tie replacement in Oldham?
Prices in Oldham are worked out on North West rates. They include VAT and are a starting point: access, the extent of the damage and whether an engineer or building control is involved all move the figure.
| Item | Guide price | Per |
|---|---|---|
| Mid-terrace houseest. | £1,750 – £3,350 | per house |
| Semi-detached house | £2,400 – £4,800 | per house |
| Detached houseest. | £3,350 – £6,700 | per house |
| Scaffolding where neededest. | £575 – £1,750 | per elevation |
Repair options we may recommend
Isolating the old ties
Where the old ties are swelling and cracking the brickwork, fitting new ties alone may not stop further damage. Each old tie can be isolated, usually by cutting it through within the cavity or sleeving its outer end, so it can no longer lift the outer leaf as it continues to corrode.
Best for: Thick mild steel ties still causing horizontal cracking
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
What to expect when we carry out wall tie replacement
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.
Is it time for wall tie replacement? Common signs
- Horizontal cracks along mortar joints, repeating every few brick courses
- The roof edge or verge lifting slightly above the brickwork
- Cracked render with a regular horizontal pattern
Rules for wall tie replacement in England
Like-for-like repairs such as crack stitching and repointing do not usually need building control approval in England, but anything that changes or strengthens the structure, such as underpinning or rebuilding a wall, does. If the work touches a party wall, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 may apply.
Your wall tie replacement questions
How much will wall tie replacement cost in Oldham?
Guide prices for wall tie replacement in Oldham start from about £1,750 per house, including VAT, on North West rates. Your fixed written price follows photos or a survey and depends on the extent of the work and access.
Do you cover Oldham?
We do. Oldham and the surrounding area are covered, including nearby Middleton and Ashton-under-Lyne. A free initial assessment from your photos is the first step.
Is the ground in Greater Manchester prone to subsidence?
Greater Manchester is mostly glacial till over sandstone and mudstone, with the Lancashire coalfield beneath much of Wigan, Bolton, Salford and parts of the east. Historic mine workings, made ground and old mill sites are common. Only an investigation can say why a particular building has moved.
Will a mortgage lender accept wall tie replacement?
Lenders generally accept properly carried out tie replacement, but they may want to see the survey, the quote or a record of the completed work. If a valuation has flagged wall ties, a written report and itemised quote are usually what the lender or buyer needs next.
Do the old wall ties have to be removed?
Not always, because thin wire ties that cannot swell are usually left in place once new ties are fitted. Thicker ties that are still expanding and cracking the wall are isolated or removed so they stop causing damage. The survey decides which applies.
Other structural repairs in Oldham
- Retaining wall repairs
- Bay window subsidence repairs
- Concrete repairs
- Extension pulling away repairs
- Bowing wall repairs
Wall tie replacement near Oldham
If your Oldham home has a bulging outer wall, send photos from a few angles and we will help you decide what needs checking first.