Cracked Lintel

[Steve]

Hi,

Can anyone tell me if it is possible to have a cracked lintel repaired, or is replacement the only option? Lintel is stone and in Victorian semi above ground floor window.

I would also like to know if anyone can recommend a decent source for sash windows, I would like to refit as original with reproduction units.
I suspect that the removal and replacement of the original windows will have caused the cracking of the lintel.

 

[Moo]

When asking about suppliers, it's always a help if you give some indication of whereabouts you live.

 

[mark_j_k]

If you do need to replace it then depending on length and what it looks like, we may have something suitable replacement for sale.

We've got some weathered, hand-cut stone lintels (not smooth at all) that we may be selling too. They were from a old farmhose (pre-1900 definetly) that was being demolished - rescued them just in time.

 

[NT]

Fixing cracks in lintels is in most cases not necessary. If the opening is large it is, but for your average terraced house window it is generally not.

Most brickwork above windows is supported by the walls either side of the window, just like corbels. It is only a triangle of bricks directly above the window that is not. There are many houses with no support for this triangle of bricks, and normally they stay where they are using the same mechanism that supports soldier courses. But in your case you already have 2 cantilever lintels for support, which is what a split lintel becomes. So they currently have 2 means of support when only one is necesary.

This picture changes if the opening is wide, as the degree of support from cantilevers is then much less, the soldier style support inadequate, and the weight to be supported much larger.


NT

 

[Steve]

Hi,

Thanks for the info so far, forgot to mention in first post that this is 2 storey Bay windows, Ground floor has cracked, I am not sure if this will affect what NT has said about cantilever. There appears to be slight downwards movement of lintel on crack line.

 

[NT]

Bay window would presumably mean lack of cantilever effect. If the brickwork has cracked and moved downwards there is a problem there. If not, but the lintel has moved, then the brickwork would be holding itself up. Not ideal, but there are quite a lot of houses like that about.

I recall seeing a house built with no lintels anywhere. All the brickwork stayed healthy long term except for one instance, the double wide garage. Here the unsupported brick triangle was large and heavy, and there was nothing to support it but the mortar between the bricks. After over a decade it finally cracked and began to move slightly. A lintel was finally installed.


NT