Visual Signs of Wall Ties Failure

Ancon wall ties play an important role in the construction of any masonry. The job of the wall ties are to tie the visible outer cavity of the wall of the building to its structural and load bearing inner leaf. After a particular period of time, the wall ties corrode and thus its strength loosens up. In such a condition of wall tie failure, the inner as well as the outer leaf of the building become independent of each other. Thereafter, the building becomes structurally unsafe and can be danger for those who are in it and are around it. 

This article focuses around the visual signs of damaged or corroded wall ties in the masonry walls. Take a quick look on these signs:

·         Vertical or horizontal cracks in brickwork: The vertical or horizontal cracks are normally caused due to corrosion of the wall ties. As the wall tie corrodes, the metallic oxide is produced that takes up more than the non-corroded wall tie would require. Thus the bricks that are placed above and below the wall ties are forced apart and therefore cracking the mortar bed. If this issues spread within your property, then you will ultimately notice that it will occur to every six course of the brick that is up to 450mm. 

·         Bulging Brickwork: Bulging brickwork can be seen in the areas where the corrosion of the wall ties and resultant expansion in the masses force the outer skin to either move up or down. If there is no space for the skin to expand, then the brickwork itself bulge outwards causing bulge. 

·         Cracks or Separation of Window Reveals: This is normally seen in the internal walls of the property. When the movement is happened, it causes gaps and cracking that can appear between the window frames and window reveals. In addition to it, the depth of the window reveal can also appear as consistent due to wall ties being corroded. 

·         Lintels lifting or sagging: Due to the wall ties being corroded, the expansion that occurs causes certain amount of movement. This can push up the lintels either upwards or downwards. This same can appear in the window sills. 

It is vital that you notice and take remedial actions for getting the masonry repaired. Today, ancon wall ties are being used in the construction of the building as there’s much increased resistance to rusting and corrosion.

Top Reasons to Live in Sustainable Houses

Most of the cities all over the globe are encouraging building designs that are ecologically well-maintained. The mentality behind building up ecological friendly architectural places is that possess little or no negative impact on the environment. Designing the places with the help of builders merchant Bognor Regis can create the place in such a manner that will provide our future generations a planet worth living in. The sustainable homes are effectively proved as a bridge between ecology and architecture. It encourages the efficient and moderate use of energy and other building materials without damaging the natural resources.

Some of the benefits of living in the sustainable homes are as follows:

·         Increased productivity: Studies prove the fact that by living in the healthy environment, one can be more productive and efficient. Also, by working in the sustainable-developed offices, employees are prone to less sick, absent and also work more in quantity and quality.

·         High Market value: The homes developed in a sustainable manner have a high resale value. It has been proved that the maintenance and utility costs of the sustainable homes are much less of normal built homes. Thus, they are more likely to be purchased at a higher price.

·         Healthy Occupants: According to a recent study by Environmental Protection Agency, the air pollution that is inside a building is worse that outside. Most of the people get triggered by pollutants that are found inside non-green buildings.

·         Easily Availability of Sustainable Building Materials: So as to promote the sustainable buildings, the recycling industries endorse recycled products. Thus, they are easily available. Builders merchant Bognor Regis are in direct contact with the recycling industries for construction purposes. Therefore, architects have a freehand to expand the sustainability of the building.

·         Cost efficient: The homeowners are looking forward for developing a home that can cut down maintenance and utility costs. By using solar panels other cost efficient products, the maintenance and utility costs can be minimized. One might have to make a bigger investment in the beginning, but it will be worth in longer run.

·         Changing Preferences of Consumers: Now days, people are more aware of the damage that can be done to the planet. Still, they aren’t ready to adopt the changes that will improve the condition of planet. But youngsters are more interested in studying and developing sustainable architecture. This way, the youngsters can also bring a change.

In my point of view, this blog will help you to find out the reasons on why sustainable houses are preferred to live. County Supplies has building materials that can help you build a sustainable & perfect house.

Cracks on the Walls & What You Need to Do About it

So, you’ve shifted all the furniture back to its place after a long week of whitewashing your house. At first, your house looks clean and new. And while shifting, you take a closer look at the job done by the painters and you find that cracks in the paints. When you notice wall cracks in the walls, it can be due to a cosmetic problem or it could give us a hint towards a serious issue, that is, structural ones. 

How would you identify the cracks in the walls?

A good sign of structural damage in the wall is to look at how long and wide is the wall crack. If the crack goes more than 1.5 inches wide, if the crack appears even after a number of repairs, or you find it difficult to close the windows and doors, then might be a signal towards the structural issues. At this time, it is best that you address this issue to a professional crack wall repair. 

What are the reasons of cracks that appear on the walls?

·         Contraction & Expansion: The materials like paint and plaster the make up the masonry walls contract and expand due to the changes in the humidity and temperature. This situation is common in the rooms that are fully air-conditioned or that faces sun quite a lot. This contraction and expansion can cause hairline cracks to appear. 

·         Low quality paint: If the paints are of low quality, then it results in poor paint adhesion. This causes cracks. Also, if we use different quality of the paints of different coats, then it could also cause cracks on the walls. 

·         Impatience during plasterwork: Most of the times, the workers do not let the cement and plaster dry up and then they apply paint. This is the most common factor that gives rise to cracks. 

·         Poor paint job: Painting an entire may involve a huge amount of work and it would be hectic for an individual to rush through this process. At the time of whitewashing, some of the mistakes like missing out on the layers, not letting the previous paint coat to dry up, all these things can affect the quality of the house. 

If you find any crack developing on the surface of the walls, its better that you identify the type of crack and call for crack wall repair.

Types & Causes of Cracks in Masonry Walls

Most of the types of cracks that appear in the masonry walls can be minor and insignificant in the first look, but after a certain course of time it requires expensive repair and in some cases, the only solution left is total demolition of the masonry wall. The causes of such cracks that appear in the masonry walls can be due to subsidence and settlement. Thus, it is important that one takes an immediate action to get masonry crack repair done as soon as possible to avoid further severe problems. 

Here are some of the major types and causes of Masonry cracks on the walls. 

·         Expansion cracks: The masonry walls are affected by change in the temperature and moisture level. Thus the materials experience sudden shrinkage, contraction or expansion. This results in expansion cracks. Expansive crack allow water into the cavity in brick and thus cause damage to the wall ties. If the crack is minor, then filling the crack with a mastic or sealastic compound is suggested. In case it’s major, then repair masonry crack with an expansion joint.

·         Tie failure: Wall ties are used to hold the inner as well the outer leaves of the cavity walls together. Normally, tie failure appears when the tie rusts. This causes cracks in the masonry walls. In this case, it is recommended to replace the wall ties or in extreme cases, it could result in the collapse of the wall.

·         Subsidence: The cracks caused due to subsidence is the most difficult to repair. Subsidence occurs due to reasons such as mining activity, leaking underground drainage, peak or clay subsoil or due to running sand. These cracks appear at the corner of the upper walls of the room. It requires immediate masonry crack repair and a specialist advice is required.

·         Ground heave: This is similar as the crack caused due to subsidence with a difference that the cracks would be wide at the base of the wall. This is due to the expansion of clayey soil. In the severe cases, the only solution the contractor is left with underpinning and deeper foundations. Alternate option that is available is to remove as much as possible the clayey soil from the foundation and replacing it with the hardcore is advised.