Wilmslow · Cheshire
Lintel replacement in Wilmslow
Bay windows on older houses around Wilmslow 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
- M90, SK9
- Population
- about 26,000
- Area
- Cheshire
- Pricing region
- North West
Is Cheshire prone to ground movement?
We cover Wilmslow and its postcode districts M90, SK9, part of Cheshire, with a population of roughly 26,000. If you are just outside Wilmslow, we also cover Cheadle Hulme (4 miles), Altrincham (6 miles) and Macclesfield (6 miles).
Parts of Cheshire have clay that can shrink near trees in dry spells. Historic brine and salt working has caused ground movement in parts of Cheshire in the past. Typical buildings in Cheshire: Brick terraces in Crewe, Northwich and Warrington, Victorian villas in Chester, and inter-war and post-war semis.
How we usually approach lintel replacement
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
Inner and outer lintel replacement
Solid walls and some cavity walls carry separate lintels on the inside and outside faces. Where both have failed, each is replaced in turn, keeping the wall supported throughout. Internal plaster and reveals are then made good and redecorated where included.
Best for: Older solid walls with rotten timber across the inner face
What happens during lintel replacement, step by step?
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.
What to look for before calling about lintel replacement
- Brickwork above an opening visibly dipping in the middle
- Damp patches on the inside wall just above a window
- A diagonal crack climbing away from a window head
Lintel replacement prices in Wilmslow
Prices in Wilmslow are worked out on North West 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 | £720 – £2,400 | per opening |
| Wide or bay openingest. | £1,900 – £4,300 | per opening |
| Making good inside and outest. | £145 – £575 | per opening |
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 Wilmslow
What is the price of lintel replacement in Wilmslow?
Guide prices for lintel replacement in Wilmslow 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 Wilmslow?
Yes, Wilmslow is covered, along with postcode districts M90, SK9. We also cover nearby Cheadle Hulme and Altrincham.
Does the ground around Wilmslow 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.
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.
What does needling a wall mean?
Needling means passing short steel members through holes cut in the wall just above the opening and supporting them on props on both sides. The needles take the weight of the wall above, so the old lintel can be removed safely without any brickwork dropping.
More repairs we carry out in Wilmslow
- Brick arch repairs
- Retaining wall repairs
- Bay window subsidence repairs
- Extension pulling away repairs
- Floor joist repairs
Lintel replacement near Wilmslow
If rust is showing above the windows of your Wilmslow home, photograph it close up and we will tell you whether replacement is due.