Mountsorrel · Leicestershire
Lintel replacement in Mountsorrel
A lintel problem in Mountsorrel, 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
- LE4
- Population
- about 17,000
- Area
- Leicestershire
- Pricing region
- East Midlands
Why does the ground in Leicestershire matter for lintel replacement?
We cover Mountsorrel and its postcode districts LE4, part of Leicestershire, with a population of roughly 17,000. If you are just outside Mountsorrel, we also cover Loughborough (4 miles), Leicester (5 miles) and Coalville (9 miles).
Parts of Leicestershire have clay that can shrink near trees in dry spells. 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 when we carry out lintel replacement in Mountsorrel?
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.
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
- Brickwork above an opening visibly dipping in the middle
- Damp patches on the inside wall just above a window
- Soft, crumbly timber visible behind the brick face over a bay
How much will lintel replacement cost in Mountsorrel?
Guide prices below are for homes in Mountsorrel, on East 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 | £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 Mountsorrel?
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
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 Mountsorrel: questions and answers
How much will lintel replacement cost in Mountsorrel?
Guide prices for lintel replacement in Mountsorrel 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 Mountsorrel?
We do. Mountsorrel and the surrounding area are covered, including nearby Loughborough and Leicester. A free initial assessment from your photos is the first step.
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.
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.
Do I need building regulations approval to replace a lintel?
In England and Wales, replacing a lintel is structural work and building control will usually need to approve it. Rules differ in Scotland and Northern Ireland. We deal with building control where the work needs it, and include the cost in the quote.
Other structural repairs in Mountsorrel
- Extension pulling away repairs
- Crack stitching
- Structural crack repairs
- Subsidence repairs
- Roof structure repairs
Lintel replacement near Mountsorrel
If rust is showing above the windows of your Mountsorrel home, photograph it close up and we will tell you whether replacement is due.