Aberdeen · Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire
Lintel replacement in Aberdeen
A lintel problem in Aberdeen, as anywhere, usually shows first as a crack climbing from the corner of a window. We look at what is actually spanning the opening, whether timber, steel, concrete or brick, and what has made it fail.
Guide price from£710per opening inc VAT
- Postcodes
- AB10, AB11, AB12, AB15, AB16
- Population
- about 200,000
- Area
- Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire
- Pricing region
- Scotland
Is Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire prone to ground movement?
Aberdeen (AB10, AB11, AB12, AB15, AB16) has around 200,000 residents and sits in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire. Nearby places we cover include Westhill (7 miles), Stonehaven (13 miles) and Inverurie (14 miles).
Most of Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire is on firmer ground than the clay belts of the south-east. Ground movement here is more often linked to soils, drains and trees than to mining. What you mostly find across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire: granite tenements and terraces in Aberdeen, fishing-town cottages and post-war estates.
What to expect when we carry out lintel replacement
Specify the replacement
We confirm the lintel type, length and bearing needed. For wide openings, bays or walls with unusual loads, an engineer may specify it, and where the repair needs an engineer’s design or sign-off we can arrange one.
Support the wall
Props or needles are set so the brickwork above carries no load on the old lintel. Windows are protected or temporarily removed where the work demands it, and the room inside is sheeted against dust.
Remove supports and make good
Once the mortar has gained strength, props and needles come out and their holes are made good. Pointing, reveals and plaster are finished, and the window is refitted or checked for smooth operation.
Is it time for lintel replacement? Common signs
- Window or door frames that have started to bind or distort
- Brickwork above an opening visibly dipping in the middle
- Soft, crumbly timber visible behind the brick face over a bay
What should you budget for lintel replacement in Aberdeen?
Prices in Aberdeen are worked out on Scotland rates. They include VAT and are a starting point: access, the extent of the damage and whether an engineer or building control is involved all move the figure.
| Item | Guide price | Per |
|---|---|---|
| Standard window or door opening | £710 – £2,400 | per opening |
| Wide or bay openingest. | £1,900 – £4,300 | per opening |
| Making good inside and outest. | £140 – £570 | per opening |
Repair options we may recommend
Replacement with a cavity tray
A damp-proof membrane is laid over the new lintel with stop ends and weep holes, so water running down the cavity is directed out rather than into the house. Many older lintels were installed without one, which is often why they failed.
Best for: Cavity walls with damp above windows
Like-for-like replacement
The failed lintel comes out and one of suitable type and size is bedded on mortar with adequate bearing at each end. Bricks above are relaid to match the original bond and the joints are pointed to blend with the surrounding wall.
Best for: Standard windows and doors with a single failed lintel
Rules for lintel replacement in Scotland
In Scotland, underpinning and other structural alterations generally need a building warrant from the council’s building standards service before work starts, and a completion certificate at the end; small like-for-like repairs often do not. There is no Party Wall Act in Scotland; shared walls are covered by title deeds and, for flats, the Tenements (Scotland) Act 2004.
Your lintel replacement questions
How much will lintel replacement cost in Aberdeen?
Guide prices for lintel replacement in Aberdeen start from about £710 per opening, including VAT, on Scotland rates. Your fixed written price follows photos or a survey and depends on the extent of the work and access.
Do you cover Aberdeen?
Yes, Aberdeen is covered, along with postcode districts AB10, AB11, AB12, AB15. We also cover nearby Westhill and Stonehaven.
Is the ground in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire prone to subsidence?
The north-east is mostly granite and other hard rock with glacial till and sands, so clay shrinkage is uncommon. Granite buildings, older lime mortars and coastal exposure shape most repairs. Only an investigation can say why a particular building has moved.
What is a cavity tray and do I need one?
A cavity tray is a damp-proof membrane above a lintel that catches water running down inside a cavity wall and sends it out through weep holes. If your wall is cavity construction and the original lintel had no tray, fitting one with the new lintel is usually sensible.
How long does it take to replace a lintel?
Most single lintels are replaced in one to two days. The props stay in until the mortar has gained enough strength, and wide bays or openings with both inner and outer lintels can take longer. The window can usually be used again once the supports come out.
Other structural repairs in Aberdeen
- Retaining wall repairs
- Structural surveys and crack monitoring
- Bay window subsidence repairs
- Subsidence insurance claim repairs
- Floor joist repairs
Lintel replacement near Aberdeen
Send photos of the cracked or sagging opening at your Aberdeen home for a free initial assessment and an honest view on the lintel.