What Size Wall Tie Do You Need?

It can sometimes be underestimated just how important wall ties are to the integrity of a building. These little stainless steel ties carry a lot of stress over time, so it’s crucial that every detail is considered before their installation.

For most new builds involving wall ties, an architect or structural engineer will provide detailed information in terms of what size and quantity of wall ties are needed. However, if you require some peace of mind that you have the right ties for the job, here’s a guide to what size wall tie you should be looking for.

Choosing the Correct Type of Wall Tie

First things first, it’s crucial that you choose the right wall tie for your job.

There are various types of wall ties out there. The most common types, which we’ll be focusing on here, are:

• Masonry to Masonry Wall Ties
• Masonry to Timber Wall Ties

There are other types of ties to consider, such as remedial wall ties, and within these types, various designs offer different levels of support. For more information and advice on choosing the best specific tie for your job, check out our guide to the different types of wall ties.

Wall Tie Length Chart

*Wall ties over 300mm are uncommon. If working on a wide cavity, consider specially designed long wall ties.

NOTE: The table above is based on general recommendations across many products. Please consult your wall tie manufacturer’s guidance for accurate information in terms of the recommended size for your project.

The main thing when sizing a wall tie is to ensure it’s long enough to be sufficiently embedded into each wall leaf. Not having sufficient embedment risks compromising wall tie performance and the structural integrity of the wall, leading to the collapse of the outer masonry leaf.

Generally, wall ties need to be embedded no less than 62.5mm into a masonry leaf. For masonry-to-masonry wall ties, that means the wall tie must be embedded at least 62.5mm into each leaf (125mm embedded in total) and be long enough to span the cavity width.

As masonry-to-timber wall ties tend to screw into the timber instead of being embedded, you usually only have to consider the 62.5mm embedment into the masonry leaf alongside the cavity width. However, because masonry-to-timber wall ties can come in more varied designs than brick-to-brick, it’s best to consider multiple sizes and the recommendations of your specific product.

Once you have the minimum length of embedment required combined with the cavity width, you can round up to the next universal wall tie size. However, if the next wall tie size is close to your number, you may want to round up to another size to ensure the minimum embedment is comfortably reached.

For example, taking a 50mm masonry-to-masonry cavity, adding the minimum embedment required gives you 175mm, which you’d then round up to a more common 200mm wall tie.

How Many Wall Ties Do You Need?

Another factor to consider when deciding on wall ties is how many you need. Again, similar to choosing the type of wall tie, there are lots of factors that can influence this, such as the cavity width, the wall height, wind stresses and openings.

The following is a general rule, but we recommend consulting with a qualified architect, engineer, or your specific product manufacturer for more precise information related to your project:

• For most masonry-to-masonry jobs, there should generally be 2.5 wall ties per square metre, with a maximum spacing of 900mm horizontal and 450mm vertical, with more frequent placement around openings (doors and windows).
• For masonry-to-timber, wall ties should be placed around 4.4 times per square metre in low-wind environments (no more than 25m/s). In higher wind environments, wall ties should be 7 times per square metre.

Of course, why you should always consult the manufacturer’s or an engineer’s guidance related to specific projects, we hope this guide helps give you the confidence to know what wall ties to look for in every job.