Newcastle upon Tyne · Tyne and Wear
Wall tie replacement in Newcastle upon Tyne
The first clue to failing wall ties in Newcastle upon Tyne 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£1,650per house inc VAT
- Postcodes
- NE1, NE2, NE99
- Population
- about 300,000
- Area
- Tyne and Wear
- Pricing region
- North East
How do local ground conditions affect wall tie replacement in Newcastle upon Tyne?
Newcastle upon Tyne is in Tyne and Wear and takes in postcode districts NE1, NE2, NE99. About 300,000 people live there. If you are just outside Newcastle upon Tyne, we also cover Whickham (3 miles), Wallsend (3 miles) and Blaydon-on-Tyne (4 miles).
Parts of Tyne and Wear have clay that can shrink near trees in dry spells. Historic coal workings are recorded beneath parts of Tyne and Wear, and a coal mining search is worth checking where movement is unexplained. What you mostly find across Tyne and Wear: Tyneside flats and terraces, Victorian villas, inter-war council estates and post-war semis.
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
Report and quote
You receive a written summary of what the survey found on each elevation, which walls need new ties, whether old ties should be isolated or removed, and a no-obligation written quote with scaffold shown separately.
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
- Outer brickwork bowing or bulging, often worst near the top
- Mortar joints that look wider or opened up on one elevation
- A house built before the 1980s on an exposed or coastal site
What should you budget for wall tie replacement in Newcastle upon Tyne?
For Newcastle upon Tyne we use North East 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. | £1,650 – £3,200 | per house |
| Semi-detached house | £2,300 – £4,600 | per house |
| Detached houseest. | £3,200 – £6,450 | per house |
| Scaffolding where neededest. | £550 – £1,650 | per elevation |
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 Newcastle upon Tyne?
Guide prices for wall tie replacement in Newcastle upon Tyne start from about £1,650 per house, including VAT, on North East rates. Your fixed written price follows photos or a survey and depends on the extent of the work and access.
Do you cover Newcastle upon Tyne?
Yes. We take enquiries from across Newcastle upon Tyne, including NE1, NE2, NE99, and from nearby places such as Whickham and Wallsend. Send photos for a free initial view and we will tell you what happens next.
Is the ground in Tyne and Wear prone to subsidence?
Tyne and Wear lies on the Durham and Northumberland coalfield, with old shallow workings recorded beneath parts of Newcastle, Gateshead and Sunderland, mostly under a cover of glacial clay. Only an investigation can say why a particular building has moved.
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.
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.
Other structural repairs in Newcastle upon Tyne
- Resin injection ground stabilisation
- Crack stitching
- Boundary and garden wall repairs
- Structural crack repairs
- Lintel replacement
Wall tie replacement near Newcastle upon Tyne
Send photos of any horizontal cracking at your Newcastle upon Tyne property and we will tell you whether a wall tie survey looks worthwhile.