Brick tie installation for new home façades
We install brick ties on new homes for GTA builders and masons, to the 2024 Ontario Building Code and your engineer's spacing, before the masons arrive. Since 2024, ties for masonry veneer must be pre-bent before galvanizing and fastened with 76 mm nails. We photograph each elevation for your records. Call 905-251-0101.
Brick ties anchor the brick veneer to the backing wall across the air space. They're small, but they're what holds the façade to the house for its whole life, and they're covered the moment the first course goes up. Getting them right, and being able to show they're right, matters.
What changed in the 2024 Ontario Building Code
The 2024 Ontario Building Code (Article 9.20.9.5) changed the requirements for ties in masonry veneer: ties must be pre-bent before galvanizing, and they must be fastened with 76 mm nails. Ties bent on site after galvanizing, or fastened with shorter nails, no longer meet the requirement. Our guide Brick ties under the 2024 OBC explains the change in more detail.
Spacing and fastening (to code and your engineer)
Tie spacing, both vertically and horizontally, and extra ties around openings are set by the code and, where applicable, your engineer's design. We install to the spacing on your drawings, fasten into the framing with the required nails, and make sure ties sit at the right height to be embedded in the mortar joints.
Ties over Tyvek and Blueskin
Ties go on after the water-resistive barrier. We fasten through the Tyvek or Blueskin into the framing and seal around fasteners where the barrier manufacturer requires it. Where exterior insulation is installed, ties must be long enough to span the insulation and the air space to reach the veneer. See Tyvek and Blueskin building envelope and exterior insulation for new homes.
Scheduling ahead of the masons
Ties need to be on the wall before the masons start each lift. We schedule tie installation elevation by elevation, a step ahead of your masonry crew, so they never wait. In winter, we can tarp the scaffold at the same visit with our winter scaffolding tarping service.
Photo records for your files
Once ties are installed and before masonry covers them, we photograph each elevation. You get a record of tie type, spacing and fastening for your files, which is useful for inspections, warranty questions and your own quality control.
We install brick ties across the GTA, including Vaughan, Brampton, Pickering and Markham. Before winter, read Cold-weather masonry in Ontario.
What to send us for a brick tie quote
- Elevations showing the brick or stone veneer areas
- Wall sections showing the barrier, any exterior insulation and the air space
- Engineer's tie spacing, if different from the standard code spacing
- Masonry start dates for each home, so we can work an elevation ahead of the masons
What's not included
Supply and laying of brick or stone, lintels and flashings installed by the mason, and scaffold erection. We coordinate with those trades.
Brick ties FAQ
What changed for brick ties in the 2024 OBC?
Ties for masonry veneer must now be pre-bent before galvanizing and fastened with 76 mm nails (Article 9.20.9.5).
Who sets the tie spacing?
The Ontario Building Code and, where applicable, your engineer. We install to the spacing on your drawings.
Can ties go over house wrap or Blueskin?
Yes. Ties are fastened through the barrier into the framing, with sealing where the barrier manufacturer requires it.
Do you install ties before the masons arrive?
Yes. We work an elevation ahead of your masons so the wall is ready when they start.
Will I get proof of installation?
Yes. We photograph each elevation before masonry covers the ties.