Rawtenstall · Lancashire
Lintel replacement in Rawtenstall
Bay windows on older houses around Rawtenstall 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
- BB4, OL13
- Population
- about 23,000
- Area
- Lancashire
- Pricing region
- North West
How do local ground conditions affect lintel replacement in Rawtenstall?
We cover Rawtenstall and its postcode districts BB4, OL13, part of Lancashire, with a population of roughly 23,000. We also take enquiries from nearby Ramsbottom (4 miles), Accrington (5 miles) and Bury (7 miles).
Lancashire has a mix of ground, with clay in some places and firmer rock in others. Parts of Lancashire lie on a former coalfield, so a coal mining search is worth checking if movement has no obvious cause. Across Lancashire, most homes are stone and brick mill terraces, seaside villas in Blackpool and Lytham, and inter-war and post-war semis.
Symptoms that point to lintel replacement
- Window or door frames that have started to bind or distort
- Soft, crumbly timber visible behind the brick face over a bay
- Brickwork above an opening visibly dipping in the middle
Guide prices for lintel replacement in Rawtenstall
Prices in Rawtenstall are worked out on North West rates. They include VAT and are a starting point: access, the extent of the damage and whether an engineer or building control is involved all move the figure.
| 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
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
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
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.
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.
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 Rawtenstall?
Guide prices for lintel replacement in Rawtenstall 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 Rawtenstall?
Yes. We take enquiries from across Rawtenstall, including BB4, OL13, and from nearby places such as Ramsbottom and Accrington. Send photos for a free initial view and we will tell you what happens next.
Does the ground around Rawtenstall cause cracking?
Lancashire is mostly glacial till over sandstone and mudstone, with the Burnley and Accrington coalfield in the east and soft coastal and estuarine ground on the Fylde. Old mill and mine sites leave made ground in many towns. 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.
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 Rawtenstall
- Floor joist repairs
- Chimney stack repairs
- Roof structure repairs
- Extension pulling away repairs
- Mining subsidence repairs
Lintel replacement near Rawtenstall
If rust is showing above the windows of your Rawtenstall home, photograph it close up and we will tell you whether replacement is due.