Hereford · Herefordshire
Lintel replacement in Hereford
If a window at your Hereford 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£750per opening inc VAT
- Postcodes
- HR1, HR4
- Population
- about 60,000
- Area
- Herefordshire
- Pricing region
- West Midlands
Why does the ground in Herefordshire matter for lintel replacement?
Hereford (HR1, HR4) has around 60,000 residents and sits in Herefordshire. We also take enquiries from nearby Ross-on-Wye (11 miles), Leominster (12 miles) and Malvern (17 miles).
Parts of Herefordshire have clay that can shrink near trees in dry spells. Ground movement here is more often linked to soils, drains and trees than to mining. Housing stock in Herefordshire: Black-and-white timber-framed houses, stone farmhouses, Victorian terraces in Hereford and post-war estates.
Which repair method suits a home in Hereford?
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
What happens when we carry out lintel replacement in Hereford?
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.
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.
Signs you may need lintel replacement
- Damp patches on the inside wall just above a window
- A diagonal crack climbing away from a window head
- Soft, crumbly timber visible behind the brick face over a bay
How much will lintel replacement cost in Hereford?
Guide prices below are for homes in Hereford, on West Midlands 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 | £750 – £2,500 | per opening |
| Wide or bay openingest. | £2,000 – £4,500 | per opening |
| Making good inside and outest. | £150 – £600 | 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 Hereford: questions and answers
How much should I budget for lintel replacement in Hereford?
Guide prices for lintel replacement in Hereford start from about £750 per opening, including VAT, on West Midlands 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 Hereford?
Yes, Hereford is covered, along with postcode districts HR1, HR4. We also cover nearby Ross-on-Wye and Leominster.
Why do houses in Herefordshire crack?
Herefordshire is largely Old Red Sandstone marls that weather to clayey soils, with river alluvium along the Wye. Timber-framed and solid-walled older buildings are common. Only an investigation can say why a particular building has moved.
Can a lintel be replaced without removing the window?
Often yes. With the wall propped or needled, the old lintel can usually be cut out above the frame. If the frame has been carrying load or the lintel sits tight on it, the window may need removing and refitting, which we include in the quote.
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.
Related work in Hereford
- Bay window subsidence repairs
- Brick arch repairs
- Subsidence insurance claim repairs
- Gable end wall repairs
- Chimney stack repairs
Lintel replacement near Hereford
If rust is showing above the windows of your Hereford home, photograph it close up and we will tell you whether replacement is due.