Wigston · Leicestershire
Lintel replacement in Wigston
For a failed lintel in Wigston, the new one needs the right length, the right bearing and, in cavity walls, a tray to carry water out. Those details are what make the repair last, and they are set out in our quote.
Guide price from£735per opening inc VAT
- Postcodes
- LE18
- Population
- about 37,000
- Area
- Leicestershire
- Pricing region
- East Midlands
Is Leicestershire prone to ground movement?
Wigston, Leicestershire: about 37,000 residents across postcode districts LE18. Neighbouring towns we cover: Leicester (4 miles), Earl Shilton (9 miles) and Mountsorrel (10 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.
Symptoms that point to lintel replacement
- A diagonal crack climbing away from a window head
- Damp patches on the inside wall just above a window
- Rust stains or flaking steel showing above the frame
Guide prices for lintel replacement in Wigston
The ranges below reflect typical East Midlands costs for lintel replacement, including VAT. Scaffold, access and making good can push a job to the top of the range.
| 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 |
Methods for lintel replacement
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
Propping and needling
Adjustable props carry the wall above while the old lintel comes out. For heavier walls, short steel needles are passed through holes cut above the opening and propped on both sides, taking the load off the lintel completely. The supports stay until the new work has set.
Best for: Openings with heavy walls, upper floors or bay windows above
From first photo to finished repair
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.
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
How much will lintel replacement cost in Wigston?
Guide prices for lintel replacement in Wigston 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 Wigston?
Yes. We take enquiries from across Wigston, including LE18, and from nearby places such as Leicester and Earl Shilton. Send photos for a free initial view and we will tell you what happens next.
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.
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.
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.
Other structural repairs in Wigston
- Boundary and garden wall repairs
- Crack stitching
- Subsidence insurance claim repairs
- Subsidence repairs
- Extension pulling away repairs
Lintel replacement near Wigston
Have several failed lintels on one Wigston property? We will price each opening individually so you can plan the work in stages.