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Concrete & Masonryaka: form tieaka: wall tieaka: she-bolt

Snap Tie

In Plain English

A steel tie rod that holds opposing concrete wall forms apart at the right spacing — the ends snap off after the form is removed.

Definition

A wall form tie system consisting of a flat, notched steel rod that spans between opposing form panels, holding them at the specified wall thickness. After concrete reaches strength and forms are stripped, the protruding ends of the snap ties are broken off (snapped) at the notch point near the wall face. The remaining tie stub holes are patched or left exposed based on appearance requirements.

Why It Matters in Bidding

Snap ties are a small per-unit cost but a high-volume consumable on cast-in-place concrete wall work, so they meaningfully affect the formwork line item across thousands of ties. More importantly, the finish requirement at the tie holes drives labor: architectural walls demanding patched and sacked holes cost far more than utility walls where stubs are left exposed, and estimators who miss that distinction underbid the finishing scope.

Example

Pricing 8,000 square feet of architectural foundation wall, the estimator counts snap ties at the spec spacing, then adds patching and sacking labor for every tie hole because the walls are exposed in the finished space.

Related Terms

FormworkFormConsolidationRebar

Frequently Asked Questions

They are priced as a consumable based on tie spacing and wall area, so quantities climb quickly on large pours. The bigger cost driver is the finish: exposed stubs are cheap, while patched, sacked, or plug-filled holes on architectural concrete add significant labor that must be quantified per tie hole.
Snap ties suit thinner residential and light commercial walls. Thicker walls, water-resistant applications, or heavy form pressures often call for taper ties or she-bolt systems with water stops. The structural and waterproofing specs guide the choice, and pricing the wrong tie system can misstate both material and finishing cost.
No. Utility walls hidden behind backfill or finishes can leave stubs broken off without patching. Architectural or water-bearing walls require the holes cleaned, plugged, and finished, sometimes with non-shrink grout and a sealant. Reading the finish schedule tells the estimator how much patching labor to carry.

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