Palm Beach County Contractors

Tied to the Backup

A brick wall is just a pretty face without the ties holding it to the building. Watch what happens when ties fail in 170 mph winds, and learn how to get spacing right.

Calculate Wind Loads Watch Failure Demo

Tie Spacing Calculator

Find out how many ties your wall needs based on area and spacing.

Wall Tie Estimator

16" x 16"

Hurricane Zone Recommended

16" x 24"

Code Minimum

Wall Area (sq ft) 500 sq ft

Ties Needed

281

Ties Per Sq Ft

0.56

Coverage

1.8 sq ft

Tie Types for Florida

Not all wall ties are created equal. Here's what works in coastal Palm Beach.

Adjustable Ties

Two-piece ties that accommodate different air gap widths. Perfect when backup wall isn't perfectly flat. Most versatile choice.

Recommended

Corrugated Ties

Traditional wavy metal strips. Simple and cheap. Works well but harder to adjust for different gap widths.

Check Corrosion Rating

Stainless Steel

Required within 3,000 feet of salt water in Florida. Costs more but won't corrode. Worth it in coastal Palm Beach.

Coastal Required

Hot-Dip Galvanized

Zinc coated for corrosion resistance. Good for inland locations. Check coating thickness - G90 minimum for Florida.

Not for Coastal

Common Questions

Real answers about veneer ties.

Florida Building Code requires wall ties spaced no more than 16 inches vertically and 24 inches horizontally. In high wind areas like Palm Beach County, engineers often require closer spacing - typically 16x16 inches or even 12x16 inches for maximum resistance.

Brick veneer fails when suction pressure from wind pulls it away from the backup wall. If ties are spaced too far apart, corroded, or improperly installed, they cannot resist this outward pull. The brick literally peels off the building.

Use corrugated or adjustable ties made from stainless steel or hot-dipped galvanized steel. In coastal areas within 3,000 feet of salt water, stainless steel is required by code. The tie must be embedded at least 1.5 inches into the mortar joint.

At minimum spacing of 16x24 inches, you need about 0.375 ties per square foot. At 16x16 spacing common in Palm Beach County, you need about 0.56 ties per square foot. Your engineer may require more based on wind load calculations.