Lintels are used within properties to carry the load of brickwork from above a door, window or other opening in an external or internal wall across the adjacent wall. If any of these lintels are faulty, have corroded, are made from soldier courses (bricks curved laid vertically which can sag through slight movement) or were not been part of the original build, it is likely that cracking and instability in the surrounding walls will occur.
In severe cases walls become dangerous because of faulty or missing lintels. Lintel problems are often uncovered when replacing windows; brickwork may collapse above an opening due to a lack of lintel support.
We have experienced bricklayers who will take down the brickwork over an opening, remove the faulty lintel and then replace the brickwork incorporating a new galvanised steel lintel. We try to clean off and re-use original bricks and mix new mortar to blend with the surrounding brickwork. If this is not possible, we endeavor to find salvaged bricks that match or find a new brick that matches the colour, size and texture of the original as closely as possible.
In some circumstances in may be possible to use modern remedial systems to correct faulty lintels: BAR preservation have used these for domestic, commercial and housing association clients. These systems are proving very popular as they do not affect the appearance of the property, they are fast to install and also very economical.
BAR Preservation installed remedial lintels in over 1,500 houses in East Manchester for a housing association saving hundreds of pounds per property and dramatically speeding up the rate of work.
The remedial lintel system involves cutting out the original mortar, placing stainless steel bars in position and then injecting a new resin and grout mortar; when cured this forms a supporting beam within the existing brickwork. These cut mortar joints are then re-pointed along with adjacent cracking to form an almost invisible repair.
BAR Preservation is a structural repair and preservation specialist based in Manchester and working across the North West. For a damp survey, a wall tie survey, a structural survey, a timber survey or any other building survey click or call 0161 655 3480 now.