In response for the need for structural ties that can meet the spacing requirements for stone and brick veneer installation, Simpson Strong-Tie has introduced a new, high-performance BTH brick tie capable of connecting stone and brick veneers to light wood frame construction across spaces of up to three inches.

“As homebuilders continue to use stone and brick veneers, they need wider airspaces between the veneer and wood framing to accommodate the thickness in materials and allow for adequate drying of moisture, especially in mixed humid climates,” says Sam Hensen, vice president of connectors and lateral systems for Simpson Strong-Tie. “Contractors have consequently been asking for a structural product that can provide enough strength to cross up to a three-inch airspace between the veneer and light-frame construction, and we’ve responded with the BTH brick tie innovation.”

The BTH brick ties are made of 22-gauge galvanized steel, with bendable portions that may be adjusted in the field to fit spaces between two and three inches wide. The tie’s embossments provide added strength across wider airspaces.

To install, contractors should embed one end directly into the mortar of the veneer and nail the other to the frame with a 0.131 by 2.5-inch nail. The tie may be installed with either side facing up.