Altrincham · Greater Manchester
Lintel replacement in Altrincham
Bay windows on older houses around Altrincham 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£720per opening inc VAT
- Postcodes
- M33, WA14, WA15
- Population
- about 50,000
- Area
- Greater Manchester
- Pricing region
- North West
Is Greater Manchester prone to ground movement?
Altrincham, Greater Manchester: about 50,000 residents across postcode districts M33, WA14, WA15. We also take enquiries from nearby Sale (3 miles), Irlam (5 miles) and Wilmslow (6 miles).
Clay soils are found in parts of Greater Manchester. Parts of Greater Manchester lie on a former coalfield, so a coal mining search is worth checking if movement has no obvious cause. Across Greater Manchester, most homes are red-brick terraces, mill-town stone terraces, inter-war semis and post-war estates.
Symptoms that point to 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
Guide prices for lintel replacement in Altrincham
For Altrincham we use North West 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 | £720 – £2,400 | per opening |
| Wide or bay openingest. | £1,900 – £4,300 | per opening |
| Making good inside and outest. | £145 – £575 | per opening |
Methods for lintel replacement
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
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
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.
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.
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 Altrincham?
Guide prices for lintel replacement in Altrincham start from about £720 per opening, including VAT, on North 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 Altrincham?
Yes, Altrincham is covered, along with postcode districts M33, WA14, WA15. We also cover nearby Sale and Irlam.
Does the ground around Altrincham cause cracking?
Greater Manchester is mostly glacial till over sandstone and mudstone, with the Lancashire coalfield beneath much of Wigan, Bolton, Salford and parts of the east. Historic mine workings, made ground and old mill sites are common. 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 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 Altrincham
- Bay window subsidence repairs
- Roof structure repairs
- Extension pulling away repairs
- Retaining wall repairs
- Chimney stack repairs
Lintel replacement near Altrincham
You will get a no-obligation written quote for each Altrincham lintel, splitting out the lintel itself, the propping and the making good.