Failing lintel advice.

cattybb

Just wanting to get some advice about a failing lintel, we're in a terrace built in 1880.

I noticed some cracks in the wall of my son's room above the window, and removed the plasterboard to find that the wooden lintel has rotten about 1/4 of the way.

I'm wondering if there's a way to repair the rotten part, or if I should take the whole lintel out?
And is this a job I could do myself or is that ridiculous (I'm not too bad with DIY...)?

I'm guessing I'll need to get one to those metal telescopic scaffolding poles to hold the ceiling up, cut out the wooden lintel and put a new one in (concrete? steel?).

I can't afford to have someone come in and do this at the moment and am worried it might be dangerous.

Thanks in advance!
Catherine

fredgalway

cattybb wrote: »

Just wanting to get some advice about a failing lintel, we're in a terrace built in 1880.

I noticed some cracks in the wall of my son's room above the window, and removed the plasterboard to find that the wooden lintel has rotten about 1/4 of the way.

I'm wondering if there's a way to repair the rotten part, or if I should take the whole lintel out?
And is this a job I could do myself or is that ridiculous (I'm not too bad with DIY...)?

I'm guessing I'll need to get one to those metal telescopic scaffolding poles to hold the ceiling up, cut out the wooden lintel and put a new one in (concrete? steel?).


Thanks in advance!
Catherine
Hi Catherine replacing lintel in old building is not a diy job. There are many dangers in doing a job like this, the wall as well as the ceiling needs to be propped. Get expert help

cattybb

Many thanks, will start contacting builders!

jack of all

Absolutely not a DIY project; depending on the wall construction a builder may need to form concrete padstones within the existing wall, with propping and bracing of the actual window opening before doing so. It's bread and butter stuff to any experienced builder, but make sure that whoever you engage to do the work is fully insured and registered. Might be worth while investigating the other lintels while you're at it.

cattybb

Many thanks for this advice, I'll leave it to the professionals. Could you suggest an approximate cost for the work (ballpark figure)?