Leicester · Leicestershire
Lintel replacement in Leicester
If a window at your Leicester 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£735per opening inc VAT
- Postcodes
- LE1, LE3, LE4, LE5
- Population
- about 370,000
- Area
- Leicestershire
- Pricing region
- East Midlands
What is the ground like in Leicestershire?
Leicester is in Leicestershire and takes in postcode districts LE1, LE3, LE4, LE5. About 370,000 people live there. We also take enquiries from nearby Wigston (4 miles), Mountsorrel (5 miles) and Earl Shilton (9 miles).
Clay soils are found in parts of Leicestershire. Parts of Leicestershire lie on a former coalfield, so a coal mining search is worth checking if movement has no obvious cause. Typical buildings in Leicestershire: Victorian terraces in Leicester and Loughborough, inter-war semis and large post-war estates.
What should you budget for lintel replacement in Leicester?
Prices in Leicester are worked out on East Midlands 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 | £735 – £2,450 | per opening |
| Wide or bay openingest. | £1,950 – £4,400 | per opening |
| Making good inside and outest. | £145 – £590 | 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
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 to expect when we carry out lintel replacement
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.
Is it time for lintel replacement? Common signs
- Brickwork above an opening visibly dipping in the middle
- Soft, crumbly timber visible behind the brick face over a bay
- Damp patches on the inside wall just above a window
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 Leicester?
Guide prices for lintel replacement in Leicester start from about £735 per opening, including VAT, on East 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 Leicester?
Yes, Leicester is covered, along with postcode districts LE1, LE3, LE4, LE5. We also cover nearby Wigston and Mountsorrel.
Why do houses in Leicestershire crack?
Leicestershire has Mercia Mudstone, Lias clay and glacial till across much of the county, with the Coalville and Swadlincote coalfield in the north-west. Clay soils near large trees can move with the seasons. 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.
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.
Related work in Leicester
- Boundary and garden wall repairs
- Bay window subsidence repairs
- Subsidence insurance claim repairs
- Underpinning
- Structural crack repairs
Lintel replacement near Leicester
You will get a no-obligation written quote for each Leicester lintel, splitting out the lintel itself, the propping and the making good.