Lateral Restraint

Lateral restraint ties are used to fix bowing or bulging walls by tying the masonry into a stable flooring structure.

There are several reasons that bowing or bulging walls occur. The masonry may be inadequately tied to the floor or roof structure during construction or additional load may be exerted onto the wall where roofs are replaced with heavier roof tiles or following a loft conversion.

Traditional methods of lateral restraint such as retrofit batt straps and pattress plates with tie rods involve substantial upheaval and can be unsightly.

HelicalFix have developed two methods of lateral restraint that are discrete and unobtrusive. One for where joists run perpendicular to the wall and one where the joists run parallel.

Tying Masonry to Parallel Joists

A series of self-tapping, load-sharing tie bars are installed along the length of the wall. The bars are inserted through a clearance hole in the masonry and are then power-driven through at least two timber joists. This provides excellent grip into the flooring structure whilst the masonry end of the tie bar is secured to the wall using a chemical bonding agent.

Tying Masonry to Perpendicular Joists

A series of self-tapping helical restraint ties are installed through clearance holes in the masonry and these are then hammer driven into the timber end joists to give a secure connection to the flooring structure. The masonry end of the ties are then resin fixed to provide a secure connection to the wall.

*Both of these methods of lateral restraint should only be used where the bulge does not exceed one third of the thickness of the wall. If the wall is a cavity wall a remedial wall tie system should also be considered to tie the outer skin to the inner structure.

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