Loughborough · Leicestershire
Lintel replacement in Loughborough
A lintel problem in Loughborough, as anywhere, usually shows first as a crack climbing from the corner of a window. We look at what is actually spanning the opening, whether timber, steel, concrete or brick, and what has made it fail.
Guide price from£735per opening inc VAT
- Postcodes
- LE11, LE12
- Population
- about 65,000
- Area
- Leicestershire
- Pricing region
- East Midlands
What is the ground like in Leicestershire?
Loughborough (LE11, LE12) has around 65,000 residents and sits in Leicestershire. Nearby places we cover include Mountsorrel (4 miles), Coalville (8 miles) and Leicester (9 miles).
Leicestershire has a mix of ground, with clay in some places and firmer rock in others. Parts of Leicestershire lie on a former coalfield, so a coal mining search is worth checking if movement has no obvious cause. What you mostly find across Leicestershire: Victorian terraces in Leicester and Loughborough, inter-war semis and large post-war estates.
How much will lintel replacement cost in Loughborough?
For Loughborough we use East Midlands 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 | £735 – £2,450 | per opening |
| Wide or bay openingest. | £1,950 – £4,400 | per opening |
| Making good inside and outest. | £145 – £590 | per opening |
Which repair method suits a home in Loughborough?
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
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 happens when we carry out lintel replacement in Loughborough?
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.
Signs you may need lintel replacement
- Brickwork above an opening visibly dipping in the middle
- Window or door frames that have started to bind or distort
- A diagonal crack climbing away from a window head
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 Loughborough: questions and answers
How much will lintel replacement cost in Loughborough?
Guide prices for lintel replacement in Loughborough 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.
Do you cover Loughborough?
Yes, Loughborough is covered, along with postcode districts LE11, LE12. We also cover nearby Mountsorrel and Coalville.
Is the ground in Leicestershire prone to subsidence?
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.
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.
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.
Other structural repairs in Loughborough
- Extension pulling away repairs
- Structural crack repairs
- Roof structure repairs
- Concrete repairs
- Chimney stack repairs
Lintel replacement near Loughborough
You will get a no-obligation written quote for each Loughborough lintel, splitting out the lintel itself, the propping and the making good.