Our architectural tie rod assemblies are fabricated for both strength and beauty. This page lists the materials, turnbuckles, clevises, and ends we use, with a downloadable spec sheet for each part. Ready to order? Design your tie rod system and we'll build every rod, plate, and bracket to fit.
Welding: done in-house by gas-shielded flux-cored welding (FCAW-G), with E71T-1M wire (70 ksi electrode classification)
Finish: components ship unfinished; matte black powder coating can be added in the cart, and galvanizing by quote. Every part, brackets included, is also available in 316 stainless steel by quote, in mill finish (not polished or brushed).
02 Turnbuckles
Turnbuckles
A turnbuckle joins two rods and lets you tighten and adjust the assembly after it's installed. One end is threaded right-hand and the other left-hand, so turning the body draws both rods in or lets them out together. Our turnbuckles give 6" of take-up.
All turnbuckles: C-1035 steel, Class 2B threads, right-hand thread on one side and left-hand on the other.
03 Clevises
Clevises
A clevis threads onto the end of a rod and pins to a bracket, so the rod can pivot to the angle of the connection. Each clevis also adds about 1 1/2" of adjustment on its threads. Clevises come with pins and are available with right- or left-hand threads.
Our turnbuckles and clevises come from their manufacturer, which publishes a rated capacity for each part on its own, at 5:1 and at 3:1. These are the manufacturer's figures, not ours. They don't cover the rods, brackets, or welds, or an assembled tie rod system.
Part
Manufacturer's rated capacity, 5:1
Manufacturer's rated capacity, 3:1
1/2" x 6" turnbuckle
2,200 lbs
3,670 lbs
3/4" x 6" turnbuckle
5,200 lbs
8,670 lbs
1" x 6" turnbuckle
9,300 lbs
15,500 lbs
1/2" (CL2) clevis
3,500 lbs
5,830 lbs
3/4" (CL25) clevis
7,500 lbs
12,500 lbs
1" (CL3) clevis
15,000 lbs
25,000 lbs
04 Rods
Rods
Our rods are ASTM A108 1018 cold-finished steel, threaded UNC to Class 2A tolerances. ASTM A108 sets no minimum strength for the bar, so we don't publish strength or load values for our rods. Your engineer sizes the rod for the job.
Rod
Thread
Tensile stress area
1/2"
1/2"-13 UNC
0.1419 sq in
3/4"
3/4"-10 UNC
0.3345 sq in
1"
1"-8 UNC
0.6057 sq in
Rods run up to 20 feet each; a turnbuckle joins two rods for longer spans.
05 Ends
Through-the-timber ends
Instead of a clevis and bracket, a rod can pass through the timber and be held by an ogee washer and a heavy hex nut on the far face. It's a clean, traditional look for walls, columns, and ridge beams, and it adjusts by tightening the nut.
06 Sizes
Assemblies by diameter
1/2" assemblies: for light-duty applications and smaller spans.
3/4" assemblies: a balance of appearance and strength.
1" assemblies: for heavier loads and larger architectural features.
Each assembly can include rods, clevises with pins or through-the-timber ends, an optional turnbuckle, and brackets. Rods run up to 20 feet each. We can also make tension rod assemblies up to 2" in diameter, and custom sizes, configurations, and finishes. Contact us for a quote.
07 Engineering
A note on engineering
The turnbuckle and clevis ratings above are their manufacturer's, for each part on its own. We don't publish load values for our rods, brackets, or welds, or for an assembled tie rod system, which also depends on the fasteners and the structure it connects to. Our tie rod systems are architectural hardware and are not engineered or load-rated for a particular structure. Have a qualified engineer confirm that a system suits your building before relying on it to carry load.
