diff --git a/clients/go/shove/shove.go b/clients/go/shove/shove.go
index b42a4f18d8..6c0690f49c 100644
--- a/clients/go/shove/shove.go
+++ b/clients/go/shove/shove.go
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ func main() {
 		}
 
 		var err error
-		sinkDataset, err = sinkDataset.Pull(sourceStore, types.NewTypedRefFromValue(sourceObj), int(*p))
+		sinkDataset, err = sinkDataset.Pull(sourceStore, types.NewRef(sourceObj), int(*p))
 
 		util.MaybeWriteMemProfile()
 		d.Exp.NoError(err)
diff --git a/datas/database_test.go b/datas/database_test.go
index b0c80b9ed5..0619e30eb1 100644
--- a/datas/database_test.go
+++ b/datas/database_test.go
@@ -78,13 +78,13 @@ func (suite *DatabaseSuite) TestReadWriteCachePersists() {
 	suite.NoError(err)
 	suite.Equal(1, suite.cs.Writes-writesOnCommit)
 
-	newCommit := NewCommit().Set(ValueField, r).Set(ParentsField, NewSetOfRefOfCommit().Insert(types.NewTypedRefFromValue(commit)))
+	newCommit := NewCommit().Set(ValueField, r).Set(ParentsField, NewSetOfRefOfCommit().Insert(types.NewRef(commit)))
 	suite.ds, err = suite.ds.Commit("foo", newCommit)
 	suite.NoError(err)
 }
 
 func (suite *DatabaseSuite) TestWriteRefToNonexistentValue() {
-	suite.Panics(func() { suite.ds.WriteValue(types.NewTypedRefFromValue(types.Bool(true))) })
+	suite.Panics(func() { suite.ds.WriteValue(types.NewRef(types.Bool(true))) })
 }
 
 func (suite *DatabaseSuite) TestTolerateUngettableRefs() {
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ func (suite *DatabaseSuite) TestDatabaseCommit() {
 
 	// |a| <- |b|
 	b := types.NewString("b")
-	bCommit := NewCommit().Set(ValueField, b).Set(ParentsField, NewSetOfRefOfCommit().Insert(types.NewTypedRefFromValue(aCommit)))
+	bCommit := NewCommit().Set(ValueField, b).Set(ParentsField, NewSetOfRefOfCommit().Insert(types.NewRef(aCommit)))
 	suite.ds, err = suite.ds.Commit(datasetID, bCommit)
 	suite.NoError(err)
 	suite.True(suite.ds.Head(datasetID).Get(ValueField).Equals(b))
@@ -128,14 +128,14 @@ func (suite *DatabaseSuite) TestDatabaseCommit() {
 	//   \----|c|
 	// Should be disallowed.
 	c := types.NewString("c")
-	cCommit := NewCommit().Set(ValueField, c).Set(ParentsField, NewSetOfRefOfCommit().Insert(types.NewTypedRefFromValue(aCommit)))
+	cCommit := NewCommit().Set(ValueField, c).Set(ParentsField, NewSetOfRefOfCommit().Insert(types.NewRef(aCommit)))
 	suite.ds, err = suite.ds.Commit(datasetID, cCommit)
 	suite.Error(err)
 	suite.True(suite.ds.Head(datasetID).Get(ValueField).Equals(b))
 
 	// |a| <- |b| <- |d|
 	d := types.NewString("d")
-	dCommit := NewCommit().Set(ValueField, d).Set(ParentsField, NewSetOfRefOfCommit().Insert(types.NewTypedRefFromValue(bCommit)))
+	dCommit := NewCommit().Set(ValueField, d).Set(ParentsField, NewSetOfRefOfCommit().Insert(types.NewRef(bCommit)))
 	suite.ds, err = suite.ds.Commit(datasetID, dCommit)
 	suite.NoError(err)
 	suite.True(suite.ds.Head(datasetID).Get(ValueField).Equals(d))
@@ -204,7 +204,7 @@ func (suite *DatabaseSuite) TestDatabaseDeleteConcurrent() {
 
 	// |a| <- |b|
 	b := types.NewString("b")
-	bCommit := NewCommit().Set(ValueField, b).Set(ParentsField, NewSetOfRefOfCommit().Insert(types.NewTypedRefFromValue(aCommit)))
+	bCommit := NewCommit().Set(ValueField, b).Set(ParentsField, NewSetOfRefOfCommit().Insert(types.NewRef(aCommit)))
 	ds2, err := suite.ds.Commit(datasetID, bCommit)
 	suite.NoError(err)
 	suite.True(suite.ds.Head(datasetID).Get(ValueField).Equals(a))
@@ -233,7 +233,7 @@ func (suite *DatabaseSuite) TestDatabaseConcurrency() {
 	aCommit := NewCommit().Set(ValueField, a)
 	suite.ds, err = suite.ds.Commit(datasetID, aCommit)
 	b := types.NewString("b")
-	bCommit := NewCommit().Set(ValueField, b).Set(ParentsField, NewSetOfRefOfCommit().Insert(types.NewTypedRefFromValue(aCommit)))
+	bCommit := NewCommit().Set(ValueField, b).Set(ParentsField, NewSetOfRefOfCommit().Insert(types.NewRef(aCommit)))
 	suite.ds, err = suite.ds.Commit(datasetID, bCommit)
 	suite.NoError(err)
 	suite.True(suite.ds.Head(datasetID).Get(ValueField).Equals(b))
@@ -244,7 +244,7 @@ func (suite *DatabaseSuite) TestDatabaseConcurrency() {
 	// Change 1:
 	// |a| <- |b| <- |c|
 	c := types.NewString("c")
-	cCommit := NewCommit().Set(ValueField, c).Set(ParentsField, NewSetOfRefOfCommit().Insert(types.NewTypedRefFromValue(bCommit)))
+	cCommit := NewCommit().Set(ValueField, c).Set(ParentsField, NewSetOfRefOfCommit().Insert(types.NewRef(bCommit)))
 	suite.ds, err = suite.ds.Commit(datasetID, cCommit)
 	suite.NoError(err)
 	suite.True(suite.ds.Head(datasetID).Get(ValueField).Equals(c))
@@ -253,7 +253,7 @@ func (suite *DatabaseSuite) TestDatabaseConcurrency() {
 	// |a| <- |b| <- |e|
 	// Should be disallowed, Database returned by Commit() should have |c| as Head.
 	e := types.NewString("e")
-	eCommit := NewCommit().Set(ValueField, e).Set(ParentsField, NewSetOfRefOfCommit().Insert(types.NewTypedRefFromValue(bCommit)))
+	eCommit := NewCommit().Set(ValueField, e).Set(ParentsField, NewSetOfRefOfCommit().Insert(types.NewRef(bCommit)))
 	ds2, err = ds2.Commit(datasetID, eCommit)
 	suite.Error(err)
 	suite.True(ds2.Head(datasetID).Get(ValueField).Equals(c))
diff --git a/datas/http_batch_store_test.go b/datas/http_batch_store_test.go
index f7105af1e2..effab186b0 100644
--- a/datas/http_batch_store_test.go
+++ b/datas/http_batch_store_test.go
@@ -90,14 +90,14 @@ func (suite *HTTPBatchStoreSuite) TestPutChunk() {
 }
 
 func (suite *HTTPBatchStoreSuite) TestPutChunksInOrder() {
-	chnx := []chunks.Chunk{
-		types.EncodeValue(types.NewString("abc"), nil),
-		types.EncodeValue(types.NewString("def"), nil),
+	vals := []types.Value{
+		types.NewString("abc"),
+		types.NewString("def"),
 	}
 	l := types.NewList()
-	for _, c := range chnx {
-		suite.store.SchedulePut(c, types.Hints{})
-		l = l.Append(newStringRef(c.Ref(), 1))
+	for _, val := range vals {
+		suite.store.SchedulePut(types.EncodeValue(val, nil), types.Hints{})
+		l = l.Append(types.NewRef(val))
 	}
 	suite.store.SchedulePut(types.EncodeValue(l, nil), types.Hints{})
 	suite.store.Flush()
@@ -106,12 +106,16 @@ func (suite *HTTPBatchStoreSuite) TestPutChunksInOrder() {
 }
 
 func (suite *HTTPBatchStoreSuite) TestPutChunkWithHints() {
+	vals := []types.Value{
+		types.NewString("abc"),
+		types.NewString("def"),
+	}
 	chnx := []chunks.Chunk{
-		types.EncodeValue(types.NewString("abc"), nil),
-		types.EncodeValue(types.NewString("def"), nil),
+		types.EncodeValue(vals[0], nil),
+		types.EncodeValue(vals[1], nil),
 	}
 	suite.NoError(suite.cs.PutMany(chnx))
-	l := types.NewList(newStringRef(chnx[0].Ref(), 1), newStringRef(chnx[1].Ref(), 1))
+	l := types.NewList(types.NewRef(vals[0]), types.NewRef(vals[1]))
 
 	suite.store.SchedulePut(types.EncodeValue(l, nil), types.Hints{
 		chnx[0].Ref(): struct{}{},
@@ -153,14 +157,14 @@ func (suite *HTTPBatchStoreSuite) TestPutChunksBackpressure() {
 	defer bs.Close()
 	defer bpcs.Close()
 
-	chnx := []chunks.Chunk{
-		types.EncodeValue(types.NewString("abc"), nil),
-		types.EncodeValue(types.NewString("def"), nil),
+	vals := []types.Value{
+		types.NewString("abc"),
+		types.NewString("def"),
 	}
 	l := types.NewList()
-	for _, c := range chnx {
-		bs.SchedulePut(c, types.Hints{})
-		l = l.Append(newStringRef(c.Ref(), 1))
+	for _, v := range vals {
+		bs.SchedulePut(types.EncodeValue(v, nil), types.Hints{})
+		l = l.Append(types.NewRef(v))
 	}
 	bs.SchedulePut(types.EncodeValue(l, nil), types.Hints{})
 	bs.Flush()
@@ -186,7 +190,3 @@ func (suite *HTTPBatchStoreSuite) TestGet() {
 	got := suite.store.Get(c.Ref())
 	suite.Equal(c.Ref(), got.Ref())
 }
-
-func newStringRef(r ref.Ref, height uint64) types.Ref {
-	return types.NewTypedRef(types.MakeRefType(types.StringType), r, height)
-}
diff --git a/datas/not_a_batch_sink_test.go b/datas/not_a_batch_sink_test.go
index a1211b284f..50762c87c9 100644
--- a/datas/not_a_batch_sink_test.go
+++ b/datas/not_a_batch_sink_test.go
@@ -47,14 +47,14 @@ func (suite *NotABatchSinkSuite) TearDownTest() {
 }
 
 func (suite *NotABatchSinkSuite) TestPutChunks() {
-	chnx := []chunks.Chunk{
-		types.EncodeValue(types.NewString("abc"), nil),
-		types.EncodeValue(types.NewString("def"), nil),
+	vals := []types.Value{
+		types.NewString("abc"),
+		types.NewString("def"),
 	}
 	l := types.NewList()
-	for _, c := range chnx {
-		suite.store.SchedulePut(c, types.Hints{})
-		l = l.Append(newStringRef(c.Ref(), 1))
+	for _, v := range vals {
+		suite.store.SchedulePut(types.EncodeValue(v, nil), types.Hints{})
+		l = l.Append(types.NewRef(v))
 	}
 	suite.store.SchedulePut(types.EncodeValue(l, nil), types.Hints{})
 	suite.store.Flush()
diff --git a/datas/remote_database_handlers_test.go b/datas/remote_database_handlers_test.go
index 3ede66402a..3c04fffe76 100644
--- a/datas/remote_database_handlers_test.go
+++ b/datas/remote_database_handlers_test.go
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ func TestHandleWriteValue(t *testing.T) {
 	hint := l.Ref()
 	newItem := types.NewEmptyBlob()
 	itemChunk := types.EncodeValue(newItem, nil)
-	l2 := l.Insert(1, types.NewTypedRefFromValue(newItem))
+	l2 := l.Insert(1, types.NewRef(newItem))
 	listChunk := types.EncodeValue(l2, nil)
 
 	body := &bytes.Buffer{}
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ func TestHandleWriteValueBackpressure(t *testing.T) {
 	hint := l.Ref()
 	newItem := types.NewEmptyBlob()
 	itemChunk := types.EncodeValue(newItem, nil)
-	l2 := l.Insert(1, types.NewTypedRefFromValue(newItem))
+	l2 := l.Insert(1, types.NewRef(newItem))
 	listChunk := types.EncodeValue(l2, nil)
 
 	body := &bytes.Buffer{}
diff --git a/dataset/dataset_test.go b/dataset/dataset_test.go
index 2e8c3e3306..9b8d043161 100644
--- a/dataset/dataset_test.go
+++ b/dataset/dataset_test.go
@@ -75,8 +75,8 @@ func TestExplicitBranchUsingDatasets(t *testing.T) {
 	// ds1: |a|    <- |b| <--|d|
 	//        \ds2 <- |c| <--/
 	mergeParents := datas.NewSetOfRefOfCommit().
-		Insert(types.NewTypedRefFromValue(ds1.Head())).
-		Insert(types.NewTypedRefFromValue(ds2.Head()))
+		Insert(types.NewRef(ds1.Head())).
+		Insert(types.NewRef(ds2.Head()))
 	d := types.NewString("d")
 	ds2, err = ds2.CommitWithParents(d, mergeParents)
 	assert.NoError(err)
diff --git a/dataset/pull_test.go b/dataset/pull_test.go
index fefb437ffd..202570d6ba 100644
--- a/dataset/pull_test.go
+++ b/dataset/pull_test.go
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ func TestValidateRef(t *testing.T) {
 	r := ds.Store().WriteValue(b)
 
 	assert.Panics(t, func() { ds.validateRefAsCommit(r) })
-	assert.Panics(t, func() { ds.validateRefAsCommit(types.NewTypedRefFromValue(b)) })
+	assert.Panics(t, func() { ds.validateRefAsCommit(types.NewRef(b)) })
 }
 
 func NewList(ds Dataset, vs ...types.Value) types.Ref {
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ func pullTest(t *testing.T, topdown bool) {
 	source, err = source.Commit(updatedValue)
 	assert.NoError(err)
 
-	sink, err = sink.pull(source.Store(), types.NewTypedRefFromValue(source.Head()), 1, topdown)
+	sink, err = sink.pull(source.Store(), types.NewRef(source.Head()), 1, topdown)
 	assert.NoError(err)
 	assert.True(source.Head().Equals(sink.Head()))
 }
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ func pullFirstCommit(t *testing.T, topdown bool) {
 	source, err := source.Commit(sourceInitialValue)
 	assert.NoError(err)
 
-	sink, err = sink.pull(source.Store(), types.NewTypedRefFromValue(source.Head()), 1, topdown)
+	sink, err = sink.pull(source.Store(), types.NewRef(source.Head()), 1, topdown)
 	assert.NoError(err)
 	assert.True(source.Head().Equals(sink.Head()))
 }
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ func pullDeepRef(t *testing.T, topdown bool) {
 	source, err := source.Commit(sourceInitialValue)
 	assert.NoError(err)
 
-	sink, err = sink.pull(source.Store(), types.NewTypedRefFromValue(source.Head()), 1, topdown)
+	sink, err = sink.pull(source.Store(), types.NewRef(source.Head()), 1, topdown)
 	assert.NoError(err)
 	assert.True(source.Head().Equals(sink.Head()))
 }
diff --git a/types/blob.go b/types/blob.go
index 15af0578bc..946e79b153 100644
--- a/types/blob.go
+++ b/types/blob.go
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ func newBlobLeafChunkFn(vr ValueReader) makeChunkFn {
 		}
 
 		blob := newBlob(newBlobLeafSequence(vr, buff))
-		return newMetaTuple(Number(len(buff)), blob, NewTypedRefFromValue(blob), uint64(len(buff))), blob
+		return newMetaTuple(Number(len(buff)), blob, NewRef(blob), uint64(len(buff))), blob
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/types/decode_noms_value.go b/types/decode_noms_value.go
index 8d8ba297b6..c0ee9a57ea 100644
--- a/types/decode_noms_value.go
+++ b/types/decode_noms_value.go
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ func (r *jsonArrayReader) readKind() NomsKind {
 func (r *jsonArrayReader) readRef(t *Type) Ref {
 	ref := ref.Parse(r.readString())
 	height := r.readUint()
-	return NewTypedRef(t, ref, height)
+	return constructRef(t, ref, height)
 }
 
 func (r *jsonArrayReader) readType(parentStructTypes []*Type) *Type {
diff --git a/types/decode_noms_value_test.go b/types/decode_noms_value_test.go
index c737765345..53142d269f 100644
--- a/types/decode_noms_value_test.go
+++ b/types/decode_noms_value_test.go
@@ -127,8 +127,8 @@ func TestReadCompoundList(t *testing.T) {
 	list1 := newList(newListLeafSequence(tr, cs, Number(0)))
 	list2 := newList(newListLeafSequence(tr, cs, Number(1), Number(2), Number(3)))
 	l2 := newList(newIndexedMetaSequence([]metaTuple{
-		newMetaTuple(Number(1), list1, NewTypedRefFromValue(list1), 1),
-		newMetaTuple(Number(4), list2, NewTypedRefFromValue(list2), 4),
+		newMetaTuple(Number(1), list1, NewRef(list1), 1),
+		newMetaTuple(Number(4), list2, NewRef(list2), 4),
 	}, tr, cs))
 
 	a := parseJSON(`[
@@ -151,8 +151,8 @@ func TestReadCompoundSet(t *testing.T) {
 	set1 := newSet(newSetLeafSequence(tr, cs, Number(0), Number(1)))
 	set2 := newSet(newSetLeafSequence(tr, cs, Number(2), Number(3), Number(4)))
 	l2 := newSet(newOrderedMetaSequence([]metaTuple{
-		newMetaTuple(Number(1), set1, NewTypedRefFromValue(set1), 2),
-		newMetaTuple(Number(4), set2, NewTypedRefFromValue(set2), 3),
+		newMetaTuple(Number(1), set1, NewRef(set1), 2),
+		newMetaTuple(Number(4), set2, NewRef(set2), 3),
 	}, tr, cs))
 
 	a := parseJSON(`[
@@ -216,9 +216,9 @@ func TestReadCompoundBlob(t *testing.T) {
 	_, ok := m.(Blob)
 	assert.True(ok)
 	m2 := newBlob(newIndexedMetaSequence([]metaTuple{
-		newMetaTuple(Number(20), nil, NewTypedRef(RefOfBlobType, r1, 1), 20),
-		newMetaTuple(Number(40), nil, NewTypedRef(RefOfBlobType, r2, 1), 40),
-		newMetaTuple(Number(60), nil, NewTypedRef(RefOfBlobType, r3, 1), 60),
+		newMetaTuple(Number(20), nil, constructRef(RefOfBlobType, r1, 1), 20),
+		newMetaTuple(Number(40), nil, constructRef(RefOfBlobType, r2, 1), 40),
+		newMetaTuple(Number(60), nil, constructRef(RefOfBlobType, r3, 1), 60),
 	}, BlobType, cs))
 
 	assert.True(m.Type().Equals(m2.Type()))
@@ -308,7 +308,7 @@ func TestReadRef(t *testing.T) {
 	reader := newJSONArrayReader(a, cs)
 	v := reader.readValue()
 	tr := MakeRefType(NumberType)
-	assert.True(NewTypedRef(tr, r, 42).Equals(v))
+	assert.True(constructRef(tr, r, 42).Equals(v))
 }
 
 func TestReadStructWithBlob(t *testing.T) {
diff --git a/types/encode_noms_value_test.go b/types/encode_noms_value_test.go
index cb3d8434c5..3e77b2a319 100644
--- a/types/encode_noms_value_test.go
+++ b/types/encode_noms_value_test.go
@@ -131,9 +131,9 @@ func TestWriteCompoundBlob(t *testing.T) {
 	r3 := ref.Parse("sha1-0000000000000000000000000000000000000003")
 
 	v := newBlob(newIndexedMetaSequence([]metaTuple{
-		newMetaTuple(Number(20), nil, NewTypedRef(RefOfBlobType, r1, 11), 20),
-		newMetaTuple(Number(40), nil, NewTypedRef(RefOfBlobType, r2, 22), 40),
-		newMetaTuple(Number(60), nil, NewTypedRef(RefOfBlobType, r3, 33), 60),
+		newMetaTuple(Number(20), nil, constructRef(RefOfBlobType, r1, 11), 20),
+		newMetaTuple(Number(40), nil, constructRef(RefOfBlobType, r2, 22), 40),
+		newMetaTuple(Number(60), nil, constructRef(RefOfBlobType, r3, 33), 60),
 	}, BlobType, NewTestValueStore()))
 	w := newJSONArrayWriter(NewTestValueStore())
 	w.writeValue(v)
@@ -245,8 +245,8 @@ func TestWriteCompoundList(t *testing.T) {
 	list1 := newList(newListLeafSequence(ltr, cs, Number(0)))
 	list2 := newList(newListLeafSequence(ltr, cs, Number(1), Number(2), Number(3)))
 	cl := newList(newIndexedMetaSequence([]metaTuple{
-		newMetaTuple(Number(1), list1, NewTypedRefFromValue(list1), 1),
-		newMetaTuple(Number(4), list2, NewTypedRefFromValue(list2), 4),
+		newMetaTuple(Number(1), list1, NewRef(list1), 1),
+		newMetaTuple(Number(4), list2, NewRef(list2), 4),
 	}, ltr, cs))
 
 	w := newJSONArrayWriter(cs)
@@ -266,8 +266,8 @@ func TestWriteCompoundSet(t *testing.T) {
 	set1 := newSet(newSetLeafSequence(ltr, cs, Number(0), Number(1)))
 	set2 := newSet(newSetLeafSequence(ltr, cs, Number(2), Number(3), Number(4)))
 	cl := newSet(newOrderedMetaSequence([]metaTuple{
-		newMetaTuple(Number(1), set1, NewTypedRefFromValue(set1), 2),
-		newMetaTuple(Number(4), set2, NewTypedRefFromValue(set2), 3),
+		newMetaTuple(Number(1), set1, NewRef(set1), 2),
+		newMetaTuple(Number(4), set2, NewRef(set2), 3),
 	}, ltr, cs))
 
 	w := newJSONArrayWriter(cs)
@@ -348,7 +348,7 @@ func TestWriteRef(t *testing.T) {
 
 	typ := MakeRefType(NumberType)
 	r := ref.Parse("sha1-0123456789abcdef0123456789abcdef01234567")
-	v := NewTypedRef(typ, r, 4)
+	v := constructRef(typ, r, 4)
 
 	w := newJSONArrayWriter(NewTestValueStore())
 	w.writeValue(v)
diff --git a/types/equals_test.go b/types/equals_test.go
index edb4c8ea08..21fec26b42 100644
--- a/types/equals_test.go
+++ b/types/equals_test.go
@@ -33,8 +33,8 @@ func TestValueEquals(t *testing.T) {
 			b1 := NewBlob(bytes.NewBufferString("hi"))
 			b2 := NewBlob(bytes.NewBufferString("bye"))
 			return newBlob(newIndexedMetaSequence([]metaTuple{
-				newMetaTuple(Number(uint64(2)), b1, NewTypedRefFromValue(b1), 2),
-				newMetaTuple(Number(uint64(5)), b2, NewTypedRefFromValue(b2), 5),
+				newMetaTuple(Number(uint64(2)), b1, NewRef(b1), 2),
+				newMetaTuple(Number(uint64(5)), b2, NewRef(b2), 5),
 			}, BlobType, nil))
 		},
 		func() Value { return NewList() },
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ func TestValueEquals(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 		v := f1()
 		if v != nil {
-			r := NewTypedRefFromValue(v)
+			r := NewRef(v)
 			assert.False(r.Equals(v))
 			assert.False(v.Equals(r))
 		}
diff --git a/types/indexed_sequences.go b/types/indexed_sequences.go
index 741c39d746..924acb90f7 100644
--- a/types/indexed_sequences.go
+++ b/types/indexed_sequences.go
@@ -111,6 +111,6 @@ func newIndexedMetaSequenceChunkFn(t *Type, source ValueReader, sink ValueWriter
 			r := sink.WriteValue(col)
 			return newMetaTuple(Number(tuples.uint64ValuesSum()), nil, r, numLeaves), col
 		}
-		return newMetaTuple(Number(tuples.uint64ValuesSum()), col, NewTypedRefFromValue(col), numLeaves), col
+		return newMetaTuple(Number(tuples.uint64ValuesSum()), col, NewRef(col), numLeaves), col
 	}
 }
diff --git a/types/list.go b/types/list.go
index ad02e575ca..e5a093c18e 100644
--- a/types/list.go
+++ b/types/list.go
@@ -205,6 +205,6 @@ func makeListLeafChunkFn(t *Type, vr ValueReader, sink ValueWriter) makeChunkFn
 		if sink != nil {
 			return newMetaTuple(Number(len(values)), nil, sink.WriteValue(list), uint64(len(values))), list
 		}
-		return newMetaTuple(Number(len(values)), list, NewTypedRefFromValue(list), uint64(len(values))), list
+		return newMetaTuple(Number(len(values)), list, NewRef(list), uint64(len(values))), list
 	}
 }
diff --git a/types/map.go b/types/map.go
index 583c812511..d6df4f1f5d 100644
--- a/types/map.go
+++ b/types/map.go
@@ -263,10 +263,10 @@ func makeMapLeafChunkFn(t *Type, vr ValueReader) makeChunkFn {
 		if len(mapData) > 0 {
 			indexValue = mapData[len(mapData)-1].key
 			if !isSequenceOrderedByIndexedType(t) {
-				indexValue = NewTypedRefFromValue(indexValue)
+				indexValue = NewRef(indexValue)
 			}
 		}
 
-		return newMetaTuple(indexValue, m, NewTypedRefFromValue(m), uint64(len(items))), m
+		return newMetaTuple(indexValue, m, NewRef(m), uint64(len(items))), m
 	}
 }
diff --git a/types/map_test.go b/types/map_test.go
index f6c6b244a4..2e78a2da32 100644
--- a/types/map_test.go
+++ b/types/map_test.go
@@ -791,11 +791,11 @@ func TestMapChunks(t *testing.T) {
 	c1 := l1.Chunks()
 	assert.Len(c1, 0)
 
-	l2 := NewMap(NewTypedRefFromValue(Number(0)), Number(1))
+	l2 := NewMap(NewRef(Number(0)), Number(1))
 	c2 := l2.Chunks()
 	assert.Len(c2, 1)
 
-	l3 := NewMap(Number(0), NewTypedRefFromValue(Number(1)))
+	l3 := NewMap(Number(0), NewRef(Number(1)))
 	c3 := l3.Chunks()
 	assert.Len(c3, 1)
 }
diff --git a/types/ordered_sequences.go b/types/ordered_sequences.go
index 53597c1aa5..e26415c981 100644
--- a/types/ordered_sequences.go
+++ b/types/ordered_sequences.go
@@ -128,6 +128,6 @@ func newOrderedMetaSequenceChunkFn(t *Type, vr ValueReader) makeChunkFn {
 			col = newMap(metaSeq)
 		}
 
-		return newMetaTuple(tuples.last().value, col, NewTypedRefFromValue(col), numLeaves), col
+		return newMetaTuple(tuples.last().value, col, NewRef(col), numLeaves), col
 	}
 }
diff --git a/types/ref.go b/types/ref.go
index 6faae25ed4..231036e7a5 100644
--- a/types/ref.go
+++ b/types/ref.go
@@ -12,13 +12,15 @@ type Ref struct {
 	ref    *ref.Ref
 }
 
-func NewTypedRef(t *Type, target ref.Ref, height uint64) Ref {
-	d.Chk.Equal(RefKind, t.Kind(), "Invalid type. Expected: RefKind, found: %s", t.Describe())
-	return Ref{target, height, t, &ref.Ref{}}
+func NewRef(v Value) Ref {
+	return Ref{v.Ref(), maxChunkHeight(v) + 1, MakeRefType(v.Type()), &ref.Ref{}}
 }
 
-func NewTypedRefFromValue(v Value) Ref {
-	return NewTypedRef(MakeRefType(v.Type()), v.Ref(), maxChunkHeight(v)+1)
+// Constructs a Ref directly from struct properties. This should not be used outside decoding and testing within the types package.
+func constructRef(t *Type, target ref.Ref, height uint64) Ref {
+	d.Chk.Equal(RefKind, t.Kind(), "Invalid type. Expected: RefKind, found: %s", t.Describe())
+	d.Chk.NotEqual(ValueType, t.Desc.(CompoundDesc).ElemTypes[0])
+	return Ref{target, height, t, &ref.Ref{}}
 }
 
 func maxChunkHeight(v Value) (max uint64) {
diff --git a/types/ref_test.go b/types/ref_test.go
index b4b098aa0b..d67d7ff1a7 100644
--- a/types/ref_test.go
+++ b/types/ref_test.go
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ func TestRefInList(t *testing.T) {
 	assert := assert.New(t)
 
 	l := NewList()
-	r := NewTypedRefFromValue(l)
+	r := NewRef(l)
 	l = l.Append(r)
 	r2 := l.Get(0)
 	assert.True(r.Equals(r2))
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ func TestRefInSet(t *testing.T) {
 	assert := assert.New(t)
 
 	s := NewSet()
-	r := NewTypedRefFromValue(s)
+	r := NewRef(s)
 	s = s.Insert(r)
 	r2 := s.First()
 	assert.True(r.Equals(r2))
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ func TestRefInMap(t *testing.T) {
 	assert := assert.New(t)
 
 	m := NewMap()
-	r := NewTypedRefFromValue(m)
+	r := NewRef(m)
 	m = m.Set(Number(0), r).Set(r, Number(1))
 	r2 := m.Get(Number(0))
 	assert.True(r.Equals(r2))
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ func TestRefChunks(t *testing.T) {
 	assert := assert.New(t)
 
 	l := NewList()
-	r := NewTypedRefFromValue(l)
+	r := NewRef(l)
 	assert.Len(r.Chunks(), 1)
 	assert.Equal(r, r.Chunks()[0])
 }
diff --git a/types/set.go b/types/set.go
index 89d138363e..14e63e622d 100644
--- a/types/set.go
+++ b/types/set.go
@@ -238,10 +238,10 @@ func makeSetLeafChunkFn(t *Type, vr ValueReader) makeChunkFn {
 		if len(setData) > 0 {
 			indexValue = setData[len(setData)-1]
 			if !isSequenceOrderedByIndexedType(t) {
-				indexValue = NewTypedRefFromValue(indexValue)
+				indexValue = NewRef(indexValue)
 			}
 		}
 
-		return newMetaTuple(indexValue, set, NewTypedRefFromValue(set), uint64(len(items))), set
+		return newMetaTuple(indexValue, set, NewRef(set), uint64(len(items))), set
 	}
 }
diff --git a/types/set_test.go b/types/set_test.go
index 41c462c4cb..3b64c7f19c 100644
--- a/types/set_test.go
+++ b/types/set_test.go
@@ -673,7 +673,7 @@ func TestSetChunks(t *testing.T) {
 	c1 := l1.Chunks()
 	assert.Len(c1, 0)
 
-	l2 := NewSet(NewTypedRefFromValue(Number(0)))
+	l2 := NewSet(NewRef(Number(0)))
 	c2 := l2.Chunks()
 	assert.Len(c2, 1)
 }
diff --git a/types/struct_test.go b/types/struct_test.go
index d75416c025..30a6513cb3 100644
--- a/types/struct_test.go
+++ b/types/struct_test.go
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ func TestGenericStructChunks(t *testing.T) {
 
 	b := Bool(true)
 
-	data1 := structData{"r": NewTypedRefFromValue(b)}
+	data1 := structData{"r": NewRef(b)}
 	s1 := newStructFromData(data1, typ)
 
 	assert.Len(s1.Chunks(), 1)
diff --git a/types/value_store.go b/types/value_store.go
index e006c321ff..5ed507aab3 100644
--- a/types/value_store.go
+++ b/types/value_store.go
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ func (lvs *ValueStore) WriteValue(v Value) Ref {
 	c := EncodeValue(v, lvs)
 	d.Chk.False(c.IsEmpty())
 	hash := c.Ref()
-	r := NewTypedRef(MakeRefType(v.Type()), hash, maxChunkHeight(v)+1)
+	r := constructRef(MakeRefType(v.Type()), hash, maxChunkHeight(v)+1)
 	if lvs.isPresent(hash) {
 		return r
 	}
diff --git a/types/value_store_test.go b/types/value_store_test.go
index 7fb66cfc7a..836664671b 100644
--- a/types/value_store_test.go
+++ b/types/value_store_test.go
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ func TestCheckChunksInCache(t *testing.T) {
 	cs.Put(EncodeValue(b, nil))
 	cvs.set(b.Ref(), hintedChunk{b.Type(), b.Ref()})
 
-	bref := NewTypedRefFromValue(b)
+	bref := NewRef(b)
 	assert.NotPanics(func() { cvs.checkChunksInCache(bref) })
 }