Hi and wall tie question !

[beaufontboy]

Hi all, we have just bought a lovely 1908 house to restore, I have been happily taking off the lime with a view to redoing it all properly the house has 2 solid walls and 2 cavity . I have removed the bricks under two of the windows as they were all loose and found a fish tail, which I didn't expect to see. so it would seem a good idea to remove them while we are doing the work , but how do I find them ? is there an easy way ? and then could I just lime in a new one or does a brick house require a certain type of tie ? Thanks for any input and will no doubt be back some more questions very soon...... cheers Stuart

Fingers crossed for the links working......

https://www.dropbox.com/s/j4r0bcyf32dota0/Lounge.jpg
https://www.dropbox.com/s/oqgbx0ijc3tfs8n/house%20front%201.jpg

 

[stuart45]

Are the ties causing a problem in the walls? They may not need replacing. Old ones can be located with a metal detector. New ones are installed in different ways.

 

[beaufontboy]

Thanks Stuart, there is a definite bow to the wall between the downstairs window and one directly above it, which has been patched up with cement, and where I am currently working, but to the sides no, I will find the one that came out and take a pic, is the idea that if they are okay to leave them alone ?

 

[Zebra]

I googled "fish tail wall ties" because I didn't know what they were, and found this, which seems to describe what you want to do, although I must stress I know nothing about this website link or whether what they say is good advice.
http://www.petercox.com/faq/wall-tie-failures/how-does-peter-cox-isolate-old-fish-tail-ties/

 

[beaufontboy]

Thanks Zebra, some interesting info there.... hadn't thought about isolation but worth considering if I am not removing then

 

[stuart45]

If the thicker twist type wall ties that you have are badly rusted they usually expand and make horizontal cracks in the wall. When this happens they either need to be removed or isolated. The thinner butterfly types can usually be left in.
If you are working from the inside it's probably easier to remove them, as isolating them is more to avoid making a mess of the facework. Badly bowed brickwork may neeed rebuilding.