Cornwall · England
Lintel replacement in Cornwall
Across Cornwall, requests for lintel replacement usually begin with a crack someone has noticed getting wider. Shrinkable clay is less common in Cornwall than in south-east England. A repair only lasts if the reason for the movement has stopped.
Guide price from£770per opening inc VAT
- Area
- Cornwall
- Pricing region
- South West
- Ground
- Mostly firmer ground
- Towns listed
- 9
What is the ground like in Cornwall?
Cornwall is mostly granite and slate with little shrinkable clay, so clay subsidence is less common than in the south-east. Historic tin and copper mining has left shafts and workings in places such as Camborne and Redruth, and mining searches are routine there.
Old metal-mine shafts and workings are recorded in places, so mining searches are routine for some properties. Across Cornwall, most homes are granite and slate-stone cottages, cob buildings, Victorian terraces and post-war estates.
Is it time for lintel replacement? Common signs
- Damp patches on the inside wall just above a window
- Soft, crumbly timber visible behind the brick face over a bay
- Window or door frames that have started to bind or distort
- A diagonal crack climbing away from a window head
What should you budget for lintel replacement in Cornwall?
Prices in Cornwall are worked out on South 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 | £770 – £2,600 | per opening |
| Wide or bay openingest. | £2,050 – £4,650 | per opening |
| Making good inside and outest. | £155 – £620 | per opening |
Repair options we may recommend
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
Propping and needling
Adjustable props carry the wall above while the old lintel comes out. For heavier walls, short steel needles are passed through holes cut above the opening and propped on both sides, taking the load off the lintel completely. The supports stay until the new work has set.
Best for: Openings with heavy walls, upper floors or bay windows above
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 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 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.
Do you need approval 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.
Find lintel replacement in your Cornwall town
Your lintel replacement questions
Why do houses in Cornwall crack?
Cornwall is mostly granite and slate with little shrinkable clay, so clay subsidence is less common than in the south-east. Historic tin and copper mining has left shafts and workings in places such as Camborne and Redruth, and mining searches are routine there. Old metal-mine shafts and workings are recorded in places, so mining searches are routine for some properties. Only an investigation on site can say why a particular building has moved.
How much will lintel replacement cost in Cornwall?
On South West rates, lintel replacement starts from about £770 per opening, including VAT. The written price depends on the extent of the damage, access and whether an engineer or building control is needed.
How do I know if a lintel has failed?
The most common sign is a diagonal or stepped crack running up from the top corner of a window or door. Others include a dip in the brickwork above, rust or rot visible at the lintel edge, and windows that start to stick. A crack alone can have other causes, so it is worth checking.
Can a lintel be replaced without removing the window?
Often yes. With the wall propped or needled, the old lintel can usually be cut out above the frame. If the frame has been carrying load or the lintel sits tight on it, the window may need removing and refitting, which we include in the quote.
Is it safe to live in the house during lintel replacement?
Yes, in almost all cases. The wall is fully supported before anything is removed, and the work is confined to one opening at a time. The affected room is sheeted against dust and kept clear while props are in place.