What is an anchor bar?
An anchor bar (Dutch: schieter or schoot) is the bar on the outside face of a wall that is pushed through the eye of a wall anchor’s tie rod. The tie rod is fixed to a timber beam and runs through the wall to the outside. Because the bar is wider than the hole in the wall, it bears against the masonry. This pulls the beam against the wall and keeps the facade tied to the floor or roof structure.
The anchor bar is the visible part of a wall anchor, often called a pattress or tie plate in English-speaking countries when it takes the form of a plate. On old Dutch and Flemish buildings the bars are often decoratively forged, for example as a lily, an S shape or as the digits of the year of construction.
In Dutch, “schieter” can also mean the bolt of a door lock.
Application
Wall anchors with anchor bars are common on historic brick facades, especially on gables and long side walls that could otherwise start to lean outwards.
Points to watch during maintenance and restoration:
- Rust: a rusting bar or tie rod expands and can crack the brickwork. Have the rust removed and the iron protected, for example with anti-corrosion paint or galvanising.
- Check it works: a loose bar or a rotten beam end means the anchor no longer holds anything. Check the connection to the beam from inside.
- Listed buildings: replacing or altering wall anchors on a listed building usually requires consent. Check with the local authority first.
- Not just decoration: never remove an anchor bar without checking whether the anchor still has a structural role.
Related Terms
- Wall anchor
- Beam anchor
- Facade
- Corrosion
- Galvanising
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