Frequently Asked Questions

The QuickTie™ cable system replaces conventional hold-downs and metal strapping/clipping, and threaded rod systems that have little allowable deflections and have no way of compensating for long term wood shrinkage without expensive take-up devices. For those using expensive OSB systems to accommodate uplift conditions, QuickTie™ offers a stronger, easier to install system that eliminates multiple rows of blocking and complicated nailing patterns, as well as most metal straps that are required on all headers. See comparisons for more detail. For single-family homes, the structural plans will call-out where to place cables. On multi-family projects, QuickTie™ can serve as the delegated hold-down engineer on the project. The last few pages of your shop drawings will show what the cables replace from the structural shearwall details and how the loads meet the structural engineer’s requirements. Generally, the layout will reference the particular shearwall at issue (e.g., SW1), and the specific cables required are color-coded with a cable legend on each page. Also, beyond shearwall and uplift cables to meet the engineer’s hold-down requirements, we provide miscellaneous hardware (such as hangers, post caps, and bases, etc.). For determining the spacing of cables to resist uplift, see the uplift load table. On multi-family projects, see the roof truss page of your shop drawings for call-outs on roof truss to top plate connections, and check under the “Notes” section for additional clips/strap requirements, if any.

Each QuickTie™ cable is color-coded to designate an allowable design load. All cables are manufactured as a complete component, so there is no concern of alterations or alternations in the field. This gives an inspector confidence in the embedment depth of the cable anchor into the concrete. As a general guideline, there are three things an inspector should check when inspecting the QuickTie cable system: Tautness. Grab the cable to check it is tight. Epoxy. Verify that the epoxy has mushroomed around the threaded end of the cable at the baseplate, and that proper embedment depth has been achieved by the amount of the threaded end still visible above the base plate. (note: if the cable is coupled to anchor bolts rather than embedded into the slab, check the connection of the coupler / anchor) Tension. Each cable has a color coded tag connected to it, with instructions on tightening the cable to the proper tension written on the tag. Tension is nothing more than a measurement of elongation, and each tag will instruct the installer how much of the threaded end should be visible above the top plate nut. Further, because cables can stretch, the tensioning instructions have allotted for over-tensioning of the cables to 130% of the design load (the extra tension accounts for the relaxation of the cable that occurs over the first 45 days, as well as the compression “loading” of the building and long term wood shrinkage). The amount of tension at the initial tightening of the cable is the most load it will see in its entire life, thus “proof testing” the connection and all other components in the load path. You can rest assured if the cable holds at the time it is installed the connection is installed correctly. Also, please see the inspection/installation checklist.

QuickTie cables come in 1” increments and are identified accordingly. The measurement is from the foundation to the top of the upper most top-plate where the cable terminates. So for example, if the distance between the foundation and top plate is 10’1” – one typical plate height of a single family home in Florida – and you need a “Blue” cable to per your design load, you would order a QTB10.1. Note the distinction between the identity of the cable and the “overall length” (OAL), which is greater. The OAL represents the additional lengths of (a) the imbedded portion of the bottom swage of the cable, plus (b) the protruding portion of the top swage of the cable which runs through the upper-most top plate. Cables can also be coupled to anchor bolts such that they are not epoxied into the foundation. In this case, the cables will need to be shorter. Contact our office if this is how you intend to install the cables, and we will walk you through it. For multi-family projects, QuickTie cables are custom manufactured to length. We ask customers to complete a form that verifies plate heights. This is a critical component of getting your design correct the first time. A generic form is available at our customer service page.

For single-family homes, just give us a call or call your regional sales rep (see the Customer Service link at the top of this page), or send an email to orders@quicktieproducts.com. For any multifamily projects, send an email to estimating@quicktieproducts.com with a link or Dropbox with the architectural and structural plans, and a due date you need it by. We will contact you to discuss how we can best serve your project – either with a complete Division 6 Framing package, or, more narrowly tailored options for shearwall and/or uplift holddown requirements.

No, but we will visit your office and job site and provide training and certification to you and your installation crew. We are also happy to refer you to our very capable, cost effective installation partners in the wood frame and concrete masonry block trade.

Yes. Often times, we can get pretty close on a “budget” number for shear wall hold down replacements, without construction-issue sets of plans. When necessary, we follow our budget price with actual prices when we have enough information from structural plans.

For multifamily projects, we work off Purchase Orders or signed QuickTie quote to define pricing and our scope of work. This is mandatory, but we can get started on a more informal basis and cross that bridge when we get to it for well-established customers under tight time constraints. To provide you shop drawings, we need: “Latest and greatest” structural and architectural plans Architectural CAD files – as the foundation for our layout Truss PDF profiles and CAD files – to calculate uplift and overlay the roof layout We aim to provide complete shop drawings within 10 business days from receipt of PO and all necessary files. For single-family homes, please work with your regional sales rep.

You can always call our office and we will assist you immediately. After engaging us on a multifamily project, you will have a designated Project Manager (PM), as well as a Project Administrator (PA). Our PM and PA are here to help you answer any questions you have questions on design, installation, shipping, material lists, etc. Our VP of Engineering is also here to help you with your more technical questions. Field issues arise on nearly every job. We take pride in both proactively identifying these at the onset of your job, and reactively responding to keep your job moving on schedule.