Melton Mowbray · Leicestershire
Lintel replacement in Melton Mowbray
Bay windows on older houses around Melton Mowbray 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£735per opening inc VAT
- Postcodes
- LE13, LE14
- Population
- about 28,000
- Area
- Leicestershire
- Pricing region
- East Midlands
What should you know about the ground under Melton Mowbray?
Postcode districts LE13, LE14 cover Melton Mowbray, a Leicestershire town of about 28,000 people. Neighbouring towns we cover: Oakham (9 miles), Mountsorrel (12 miles) and Loughborough (13 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 happens during lintel replacement, step by step?
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.
What to look for before calling about lintel replacement
- Rust stains or flaking steel showing above the frame
- Window or door frames that have started to bind or distort
- Brickwork above an opening visibly dipping in the middle
Lintel replacement prices in Melton Mowbray
For Melton Mowbray 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 |
How we usually approach lintel replacement
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
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
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.
Questions about lintel replacement in Melton Mowbray
What is the price of lintel replacement in Melton Mowbray?
Guide prices for lintel replacement in Melton Mowbray 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 carry out lintel replacement in Melton Mowbray?
Yes. We take enquiries from across Melton Mowbray, including LE13, LE14, and from nearby places such as Oakham and Mountsorrel. Send photos for a free initial view and we will tell you what happens next.
Does the ground around Melton Mowbray cause cracking?
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.
More repairs we carry out in Melton Mowbray
- Subsidence insurance claim repairs
- Subsidence repairs
- Bowing wall repairs
- Bay window subsidence repairs
- Brick arch repairs
Lintel replacement near Melton Mowbray
You will get a no-obligation written quote for each Melton Mowbray lintel, splitting out the lintel itself, the propping and the making good.