Macclesfield · Cheshire
Lintel replacement in Macclesfield
Bay windows on older houses around Macclesfield often hide a timber lintel behind the face brickwork. When that timber rots, the bay brickwork drops and cracks, and replacing it properly means supporting the wall above throughout the job.
Guide price from£720per opening inc VAT
- Postcodes
- SK9, SK10, SK11
- Population
- about 54,000
- Area
- Cheshire
- Pricing region
- North West
Why does the ground in Cheshire matter for lintel replacement?
Macclesfield (SK9, SK10, SK11) has around 54,000 residents and sits in Cheshire. Nearby, we also cover Wilmslow (6 miles), Congleton (8 miles) and Cheadle Hulme (8 miles).
Cheshire has a mix of ground, with clay in some places and firmer rock in others. Historic brine and salt working has caused ground movement in parts of Cheshire in the past. What you mostly find across Cheshire: brick terraces in Crewe, Northwich and Warrington, Victorian villas in Chester, and inter-war and post-war semis.
What to look for before calling about lintel replacement
- Damp patches on the inside wall just above a window
- Soft, crumbly timber visible behind the brick face over a bay
- Brickwork above an opening visibly dipping in the middle
Lintel replacement prices in Macclesfield
For Macclesfield we use North West rates. Treat the table as a budget guide, inc VAT; the price you pay is the one on your written quote.
| Item | Guide price | Per |
|---|---|---|
| Standard window or door opening | £720 – £2,400 | per opening |
| Wide or bay openingest. | £1,900 – £4,300 | per opening |
| Making good inside and outest. | £145 – £575 | per opening |
How we usually approach lintel replacement
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
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
What happens during lintel replacement, step by step?
Inspect the opening
We look at the crack pattern, the type of lintel and what sits above it. Pictures of both faces of the window, plus any visible lintel edge, help us judge it before visiting.
Remove and replace
Brickwork is carefully taken out above the lintel, the old lintel removed and the new one bedded level on full bearings. A cavity tray goes in where relevant, then the brickwork above is relaid.
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.
Rules for lintel replacement in England
In England, underpinning and other work that alters or strengthens a wall or foundation is building work under the Building Regulations (Part A, structure), so building control approves and inspects it. Like-for-like repairs often are not, and we tell you which applies before a price is agreed. Work to a party wall, or excavation close to a neighbour’s foundations, can also need a notice under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996.
Questions about lintel replacement in Macclesfield
What is the price of lintel replacement in Macclesfield?
Guide prices for lintel replacement in Macclesfield start from about £720 per opening, including VAT, on North West rates. Your fixed written price follows photos or a survey and depends on the extent of the work and access.
Do you carry out lintel replacement in Macclesfield?
Yes. We take enquiries from across Macclesfield, including SK9, SK10, SK11, and from nearby places such as Wilmslow and Congleton. Send photos for a free initial view and we will tell you what happens next.
Does the ground around Macclesfield cause cracking?
Most of Cheshire is glacial till over Mercia Mudstone. Around Northwich and the Weaver valley, historic salt and brine extraction has caused subsidence in the past, and a separate brine subsidence compensation scheme exists for parts of the county. 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.
More repairs we carry out in Macclesfield
- Structural surveys and crack monitoring
- Floor joist repairs
- Concrete repairs
- Subsidence repairs
- Subsidence insurance claim repairs
Lintel replacement near Macclesfield
If rust is showing above the windows of your Macclesfield home, photograph it close up and we will tell you whether replacement is due.