Brickwork above Doors/Windows

BarneyMc

I've noticed a lot of houses built with natural stone in the previous few years with brickwork around the windows and doors. How does this work?

I would have assumed some sort of lintel would span the window/doorway so the bricks and stone could be built on top. My question is then how the lintel is not visible when you look straight up (above the window/door)? I would expect to see the lintel rather than the brickwork.

WUFF

In most houses built in recent times a steel lintel would have been used to span a straight opening where brick or stone are being used, these lintels are about 3mm thick so easy to miss especially if underside is painted to match brick.
There are other ways to span using steel reinforcement (rods and stirrups) but not in general use.

BarneyMc

If anyone can suggest any suppliers then please PM me the details. Thanks!

Andrew_Doran

..

BarneyMc

I was speaking with a very honest lintel supplier on the phone earlier and he said the best way to do this was just construct a wooden frame and build the blockwork around it. When all is fixed in place the frame can be removed. This is much cheaper and also will show the brickwork from underneath.

If anyone has constructed using this method can you please confirm (I will be speaking to my engineer later about this).

prewtna

some lintel companies will take some brick off your hands and fix them to the underside of their own steel lintel so giving the appearance of a true brick arch.

IMHO this is a better option because they are liable for the design, even if it is more expensive.

BarneyMc

prewtna wrote: »

some lintel companies will take some brick off your hands and fix them to the underside of their own steel lintel so giving the appearance of a true brick arch.

IMHO this is a better option because they are liable for the design, even if it is more expensive.

Yes we have a company that's doing up a quote for this also. I believe it IS expensive but will see what they come back with.

The windows are just 1M wide so forming the arch with timber frames is very achievable I'm told.

prewtna

ya, the brick arch is entirely possible - the Romans built brick arches 2000 years ago that are still standing!

question is - who is responsible for the design of the arch? if you have an engineer on board they will tell you more, as ultimately they will make the structural decisions (and take on the resultant design liability) on your build.

Interesting query though. Good luck

crockholm

You can build Close to flat without using "catnicks"-the steel lintels used nowadays. I built one that you can see on the green luas line with a rise of 1% I Believe,Span of 1200mm and rise of 15mm, it's called a flat cambered arch.

You don't need catnicks for anything other than a Soldier course over an opening, they look crappy and just add to the cost.If your mason asks for these to be used in anything other than a Soldier(bricks "standing"upright)course,I would not have so much confidence in his abilities.

The arch actually gets strength from the compression of the masonry around it,if an arch is built more for decoration rather than strength(see many Church windows with intricate stone tracery) you will usually find whats called a "relieving arch" directly above the window.You don't see many of those being built in new builds mind you

crockholm

What type of arch are you planning on building? Semi-circlular? Segmental? Flat?

BarneyMc

crockholm wrote: »

What type of arch are you planning on building? Semi-circlular? Segmental? Flat?

A picture paints... :cool:

crockholm

Good man! the one over the door is a segmental arch and the one over the window is a cambered arch-neither need catnicks. Nice options btw,don't be afraid to post or pm if you have any further questions or queries,and don't be afraid to post pics of the finished work either, great choices!

BarneyMc

crockholm wrote: »

Good man! the one over the door is a segmental arch and the one over the window is a cambered arch-neither need catnicks. Nice options btw,don't be afraid to post or pm if you have any further questions or queries,and don't be afraid to post pics of the finished work either, great choices!

Thanks, I knew what arches they were by the way, was just testing you!

So is the best way to construct these by forming timber 'casts' and building around them?

crockholm

BarneyMc wrote: »

Thanks, I knew what arches they were by the way, was just testing you!

So is the best way to construct these by forming timber 'casts' and building around them?

Sneaky bugger

Nope,normal arch-centres with laggings,left in situ for 2 weeks.

Are you facing the wall in stone or block/plaster?

BarneyMc

It will be finished in stone. I'm not sure what you mean by "normal arch-centres with laggings" :-o

crockholm

An arch-centre is the timber piece that the bricks rest on, lagging is just using Little Cuts of Wood in beyween the front and back of the arch centre, If your brickie is decent he can do them himself, otherwise you can get your chippie to do it,he will know exactly what I mean