Weymouth · Dorset
Lintel replacement in Weymouth
A lintel problem in Weymouth, 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£770per opening inc VAT
- Postcodes
- DT3, DT4
- Population
- about 53,000
- Area
- Dorset
- Pricing region
- South West
What should you know about the ground under Weymouth?
Postcode districts DT3, DT4 cover Weymouth, a Dorset town of about 53,000 people. Nearby places we cover include Dorchester (7 miles), Poole (22 miles) and Yeovil (24 miles).
Dorset has a mix of ground, with clay in some places and firmer rock in others. Ground movement here is more often linked to soils, drains and trees than to mining. Housing stock in Dorset: Stone and brick villages, Victorian villas in Bournemouth, and inter-war and post-war semis.
What should you budget for lintel replacement in Weymouth?
The ranges below reflect typical South West costs for lintel replacement, including VAT. Scaffold, access and making good can push a job to the top of the range.
| 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
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
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.
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
- Rust stains or flaking steel showing above the frame
- Damp patches on the inside wall just above a window
- Window or door frames that have started to bind or distort
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.
Your lintel replacement questions
How much will lintel replacement cost in Weymouth?
Guide prices for lintel replacement in Weymouth start from about £770 per opening, including VAT, on South West rates. Your fixed written price follows photos or a survey and depends on the extent of the work and access.
Do you cover Weymouth?
Yes. We take enquiries from across Weymouth, including DT3, DT4, and from nearby places such as Dorchester and Poole. Send photos for a free initial view and we will tell you what happens next.
Is the ground in Dorset prone to subsidence?
Dorset mixes chalk downs, Oxford and Kimmeridge Clays in the vales, and the sands and gravels of the Poole basin. Clay vales can shrink and swell, and parts of the coast are known for landslip. Only an investigation can say why a particular building has moved.
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.
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 Weymouth
- Bay window subsidence repairs
- Resin injection ground stabilisation
- Boundary and garden wall repairs
- Retaining wall repairs
- Extension pulling away repairs
Lintel replacement near Weymouth
For a Weymouth lintel, the price is fixed in writing once the repair is specified, with building control included where the work needs it.