Greenwich · Greater London
Lintel replacement in Greenwich
Rusting steel over the windows of a Greenwich home lifts and cracks the brickwork it carries. Replacing it involves propping or needling the wall, swapping in a new lintel and relaying the bricks to match.
Guide price from£940per opening inc VAT
- Postcodes
- SE3, SE7, SE9, SE10, SE18
- Population
- about 290,000
- Area
- Greater London
- Pricing region
- London
Why does the ground in Greater London matter for lintel replacement?
We cover the whole of Greenwich, including postcode districts SE3, SE7, SE9, SE10, SE18; about 290,000 people live in the borough. We also take enquiries from nearby Lewisham (4 miles), Newham (4 miles) and Bexley (4 miles).
Shrinkable clay is widespread in Greater London. Ground movement here is more often linked to soils, drains and trees than to mining. What you mostly find across Greater London: Victorian and Edwardian terraces with shallow footings, inter-war semis in the outer boroughs, and converted flats and mansion blocks.
Which repair method suits a home in Greenwich?
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 happens when we carry out lintel replacement in Greenwich?
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.
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.
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.
Signs you may need lintel replacement
- A diagonal crack climbing away from a window head
- Rust stains or flaking steel showing above the frame
- Brickwork above an opening visibly dipping in the middle
How much will lintel replacement cost in Greenwich?
These are guide prices for Greenwich, using London rates and including VAT. Your written quote follows photos or a survey, and is fixed once the repair is specified.
| Item | Guide price | Per |
|---|---|---|
| Standard window or door opening | £940 – £3,100 | per opening |
| Wide or bay openingest. | £2,500 – £5,600 | per opening |
| Making good inside and outest. | £190 – £750 | 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.
Lintel replacement in Greenwich: questions and answers
What is the price of lintel replacement in Greenwich?
Guide prices for lintel replacement in Greenwich start from about £940 per opening, including VAT, on London 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 Greenwich?
Yes, Greenwich is covered, along with postcode districts SE3, SE7, SE9, SE10. We also cover nearby Lewisham and Newham.
Does the ground around Greenwich cause cracking?
Most of Greater London sits on London Clay, among the most shrinkage-prone ground in the UK, with river gravels along the Thames. Subsidence claims here are among the most frequent in the country, especially after dry summers and near street and garden trees. 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 Greenwich
- Underpinning
- Subsidence repairs
- Brick arch repairs
- Bay window subsidence repairs
- Structural surveys and crack monitoring
Lintel replacement near Greenwich
Send photos of the cracked or sagging opening at your Greenwich home for a free initial assessment and an honest view on the lintel.