Metalwork

At Blueprint we stock a broader range of masonry metalwork components than any other supplier, we also know a lot more about them. We employ one of the most fully trained, knowledgeable, enthusiastic and helpful sales teams anywhere in the industry. So whether you’re a contractor, a merchant, an architect or engineer, we can provide you with the complete masonry metalwork solution. Our metalwork brochure is intended to give an idea of the type of products that we provide. Our stocks include the largest range of 'Ancon' products held anywhere in the UK. We are able to assist our customers in all areas of product selection, including availability and cost. Being a specialist means we can also provide advice on how products can be fitted, what they can be fitted with and a range of possible alternatives. At Blueprint we like to get involved with our customers projects. We’ll gladly arrange for one of our experts to meet you on site and help you in site surveys and determine exactly what product is needed where. If it is appropriate we dedicate a project manager to a contract who is responsible for the whole supply chain process from design through to costing and delivery. Blueprint use and invest in leading IT and stock management systems that mean we are more likely to have the product you want on our shelves than anyone else in the country. Technology that means what you order is what you get.

Masonry Support Systems
All brick or stone clad buildings require additional support above the horizontal movement joints and we provide a complete range of standard and bespoke stainless steel masonry support systems that include:

Bracket Angle System
We stock AnconOptima, the standard masonry support system that can carry a load up to 14kN/m. The system allows for a range of interchangeable brackets to suit cavities from 60mm to 130mm. All components for the system are available from stock. We can also provide a welded bracket system that is designed to suit specific site requirements. They are available in various configurations and are ideal for supporting special masonry features.

Continuous Angle Support Systems
Ideal for small cavities or where the cavity has to be closed at the support position.

Individual Bracket Support Systems
Perfect for curved brickwork.

Stonework Support
Irregular sized natural stone cladding often requires a variety of support configurations. We can provide configurations to suit you particular application.

Windposts & Parapet Posts
Large masonry panels or panels with openings need additional support to help resist wind loads. Windposts span floors to provide additional lateral support and so avoid the need for columns. They can be installed in the cavity or inner leaf of blockwork and allow the existing thickness of the wall to be maintained.

Parapet posts are used as vertical support for brickwork. Because they are designed as cantilevers the base connection must be sufficient to resist the cantilever force. We can advise which windposts and parapet posts are most suitable for your particular application.

Wall Ties and Restraint Fixings
Wall ties and restraint fixings are essential elements in the stability of all masonry panels and are available in a wide range of lengths and types. The selection and spacing of wall ties are dependent on many factors including the type of brick and blockwork to be tied, cavity width, type and height of building, location and design life. We can help you make the right choice.

The stainless steel cavity wall ties and restraint fixings we stock are some of the most advanced in the industry and are designed to help cut lead times on build projects. Also supplied from stock are head restraints, channel ties, frame cramps, wall starters, screw in ties, movement joint ties, two part ties, sliding brickwork anchors and stone restraints.

Blueprint have the largest stock holding of Ancon wall ties and restraint fixings in the UK.

Structural Bed Joint Reinforcement
We stock a comprehensive range of stainless steel and galvanised steel reinforcement products that will increase the load bearing strength of walls by providing additional tensile strength. These products can allow savings in wall width and panel supports - particularly when wind loading is a major consideration. Common uses also include lift shafts, parapets, crowd barriers, retaining walls, lintels and movement joints.

Structural bed joint reinforcement is also advised for areas where either settlement or concentrated load forces are likely to cause cracking.

Our products are easy to handle, simple to fit and are available in a wide range of flattened wire diameters with an integral cross wires. There will be no layer build-up in your brickwork and the bed joint thickness will remain as designed.

Channel and Bolt Fixings
There are various methods of fixing stainless steel masonry supports, restraints and windposts to either concrete or steel frames. The range includes

Cast-in Channels
Cast-in channels range from simple self-anchoring slots to large capacity channels with integral anchors. They provide the necessary adjustment required when fixing to concrete and can eliminate site drilling. Additionally they do not generate expansive forces in the concrete and can be used at close centres and closer to the edges than expansion fixings.

Surface-Fixed Channels
These channels are plain-backed and are supplied without anchor lugs for surface fixing to concrete, steelwork or other materials. The allowable load is dependent on the fixing centres, the type of fixing and the base material.

Bolt Fixings
These include expansion bolts, bonded anchors, cast-in sockets and a variety of fixings for steelwork. Selection of the most appropriate channel and bolt fixings for your application will depend on many factors including fixing centres, edge distances, type of fixture, loading and the site adjustment required. We can not only help you make the right choice we can also give guidance on installation.

Lintels
All our lintels are stainless steel and require no further corrosion protection. We provide a wide range of lintels suitable for the loading conditions found in the majority of residential and commercial buildings, but can also source bespoke lintels to suit heavy duty situations, unusual shapes and non-standard wall constructions.

Based on your structural loading conditions, we can advise on specification, design and installation

Joist Hangers & Straps

The use of joist hangers to support timber floor joists is becoming increasingly popular, particularly when the supporting wall is a party wall.

It is important to install the joist hanger with the back plate tight against the surface of the supporting wall. The masonry flanges and the joist hanger should be held in position by sufficient masonry above the joist hanger support, and should be allowed to achieve adequate strength before any load is applied to the hanger.

We can advise which type and size of hanger is suitable for your application based upon the span and the size of the joists to be supported.

In addition to a comprehensive range of joist hangers we also carry a selection of straight, bent and twisted straps.

Concrete Construction Products

Reinforced concrete structures are designed with expansion and contraction joints to allow movement to take place and the design of the joint will determine whether the overall design of the structure functions correctly. In comparison to conventional single dowels, shear connectors are more effective at transferring loads, simpler to install and ensure the necessary alignment required for movement. The two-part construction means that the sleeve component can be nailed to the formwork.

Ancon MBT Couplers are ideal for both new build and refurbishment work and our ranges require neither bar end preparation or bar rotation and can be used on imperial, plain round or deformed reinforcing bars. Ask us for assistance on the correct choice of coupler for your project.

Reinforcement continuity systems are designed to maintain continuity of reinforcement at construction joints in concrete. Formwork design is simplified and there is no need to drill the shuttering. Each unit consists of a galvanised steel casing which is dimpled to provide an effective concrete bond. Pre-bent bars are housed within the box and are secured by a galvanised steel cover. When the cover is removed the bars can be straightened ready for lapping onto the main reinforcement. We will gladly provide all the assistance you require in helping you to make the right choice.

top