Sutton · Greater London
Lintel replacement in Sutton
If a window at your Sutton property has started to stick and the brickwork above has dipped, the lintel is a likely suspect. Send pictures of both sides of the opening, and we will tell you what we think is happening.
Guide price from£940per opening inc VAT
- Postcodes
- SM1, SM2, SM3, SM5, SM6
- Population
- about 210,000
- Area
- Greater London
- Pricing region
- London
What should you know about the ground under Sutton?
Sutton is one of the 32 London boroughs, with around 210,000 residents in districts such as SM1, SM2, SM3, SM5, SM6. Nearby places we cover include Ewell (3 miles), Banstead (3 miles) and Merton (3 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. Housing stock in Greater London: Victorian and Edwardian terraces with shallow footings, inter-war semis in the outer boroughs, and converted flats and mansion blocks.
What should you budget for lintel replacement in Sutton?
For Sutton we use London rates. Treat the table as a budget guide, inc VAT; the price you pay is the one on your written quote.
| 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 |
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
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.
Is it time for lintel replacement? Common signs
- Window or door frames that have started to bind or distort
- Soft, crumbly timber visible behind the brick face over a bay
- Rust stains or flaking steel showing above the frame
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 should I budget for lintel replacement in Sutton?
Guide prices for lintel replacement in Sutton 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.
Can you survey a property in Sutton?
Yes, Sutton is covered, along with postcode districts SM1, SM2, SM3, SM5. We also cover nearby Ewell and Banstead.
Why do houses in Greater London crack?
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.
Do I need building regulations approval to replace a lintel?
In England and Wales, replacing a lintel is structural work and building control will usually need to approve it. Rules differ in Scotland and Northern Ireland. We deal with building control where the work needs it, and include the cost in the quote.
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.
Related work in Sutton
- Wall tie replacement
- Subsidence insurance claim repairs
- Bay window subsidence repairs
- Brick arch repairs
- Floor joist repairs
Lintel replacement near Sutton
You will get a no-obligation written quote for each Sutton lintel, splitting out the lintel itself, the propping and the making good.