Stroud · Gloucestershire
Lintel replacement in Stroud
Bay windows on older houses around Stroud 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£770per opening inc VAT
- Postcodes
- GL5, GL6
- Population
- about 60,000
- Area
- Gloucestershire
- Pricing region
- South West
What is the ground like in Gloucestershire?
Stroud (GL5, GL6) has around 60,000 residents and sits in Gloucestershire. Neighbouring towns we cover: Gloucester (8 miles), Cirencester (10 miles) and Cheltenham (12 miles).
Gloucestershire has a mix of ground, with clay in some places and firmer rock in others. Parts of Gloucestershire lie on a former coalfield, so a coal mining search is worth checking if movement has no obvious cause. Across Gloucestershire, most homes are Cotswold stone cottages, Regency terraces in Cheltenham, and brick estates around Gloucester.
Lintel replacement prices in Stroud
Guide prices below are for homes in Stroud, on South West rates and including VAT. A survey or good photos let us turn them into a fixed written price.
| 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 |
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
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
What happens during lintel replacement, step by step?
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.
What to look for before calling about lintel replacement
- Soft, crumbly timber visible behind the brick face over a bay
- A diagonal crack climbing away from a window head
- Damp patches on the inside wall just above a window
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 Stroud
What is the price of lintel replacement in Stroud?
Guide prices for lintel replacement in Stroud 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 carry out lintel replacement in Stroud?
Yes, Stroud is covered, along with postcode districts GL5, GL6. We also cover nearby Gloucester and Cirencester.
Does the ground around Stroud cause cracking?
The Severn vale around Gloucester, Cheltenham and Tewkesbury is Lias and Mercia Mudstone clay, the Cotswolds are limestone, and the Forest of Dean has a historic coalfield. Parts of South Gloucestershire around Kingswood also lie on old Coal Measures. Only an investigation can say why a particular building has moved.
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.
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.
More repairs we carry out in Stroud
Lintel replacement near Stroud
Our quote tool shows guide prices for a Stroud lintel replacement; add photos and we can confirm the likely opening size and type.