Hounslow · Greater London
Lintel replacement in Hounslow
Bay windows on older houses around Hounslow 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£940per opening inc VAT
- Postcodes
- TW3, TW4, TW5, TW6, TW13
- Population
- about 290,000
- Area
- Greater London
- Pricing region
- London
What should you know about the ground under Hounslow?
We cover the whole of Hounslow, including postcode districts TW3, TW4, TW5, TW6, TW13; about 290,000 people live in the borough. Nearby, we also cover Richmond upon Thames (2 miles), Ashford (4 miles) and Sunbury-on-Thames (4 miles).
Much of Greater London sits on clay that shrinks in dry summers and swells in wet winters. 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.
Symptoms that point to lintel replacement
- A diagonal crack climbing away from a window head
- Damp patches on the inside wall just above a window
- Brickwork above an opening visibly dipping in the middle
Guide prices for lintel replacement in Hounslow
These are guide prices for Hounslow, 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 |
Methods for 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
From first photo to finished repair
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.
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.
Frequently asked questions
What is the price of lintel replacement in Hounslow?
Guide prices for lintel replacement in Hounslow 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 Hounslow?
Yes, Hounslow is covered, along with postcode districts TW3, TW4, TW5, TW6. We also cover nearby Richmond upon Thames and Ashford.
Does the ground around Hounslow 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 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.
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.
More repairs we carry out in Hounslow
- Chimney stack repairs
- Structural surveys and crack monitoring
- Floor joist repairs
- Boundary and garden wall repairs
- Retaining wall repairs
Lintel replacement near Hounslow
Have several failed lintels on one Hounslow property? We will price each opening individually so you can plan the work in stages.