Blyth · Northumberland
Lintel replacement in Blyth
If a window at your Blyth 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£690per opening inc VAT
- Postcodes
- NE23, NE24
- Population
- about 37,000
- Area
- Northumberland
- Pricing region
- North East
Why does the ground in Northumberland matter for lintel replacement?
Blyth is in Northumberland and takes in postcode districts NE23, NE24. About 37,000 people live there. If you are just outside Blyth, we also cover Bedlington (3 miles), Ashington (4 miles) and Cramlington (4 miles).
Clay soils are found in parts of Northumberland. Parts of Northumberland lie on a former coalfield, so a coal mining search is worth checking if movement has no obvious cause. What you mostly find across Northumberland: colliery terraces, stone farmhouses and villages, and post-war estates.
Signs you may need lintel replacement
- Rust stains or flaking steel showing above the frame
- A diagonal crack climbing away from a window head
- Window or door frames that have started to bind or distort
How much will lintel replacement cost in Blyth?
Prices in Blyth are worked out on North East 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 | £690 – £2,300 | per opening |
| Wide or bay openingest. | £1,850 – £4,150 | per opening |
| Making good inside and outest. | £140 – £550 | per opening |
Which repair method suits a home in Blyth?
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 happens when we carry out lintel replacement in Blyth?
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.
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.
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.
Lintel replacement in Blyth: questions and answers
How much should I budget for lintel replacement in Blyth?
Guide prices for lintel replacement in Blyth start from about £690 per opening, including VAT, on North East 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 Blyth?
We do. Blyth and the surrounding area are covered, including nearby Bedlington and Ashington. A free initial assessment from your photos is the first step.
Why do houses in Northumberland crack?
South-east Northumberland around Blyth, Ashington and Cramlington lies on the Northumberland coalfield, worked extensively in the past, under a cover of glacial clay. The north and west are hard rock and moorland. 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.
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.
Related work in Blyth
- Chimney stack repairs
- Floor joist repairs
- Wall tie replacement
- Mining subsidence repairs
- Subsidence insurance claim repairs
Lintel replacement near Blyth
You will get a no-obligation written quote for each Blyth lintel, splitting out the lintel itself, the propping and the making good.