Bridgwater · Somerset
Lintel replacement in Bridgwater
Lintels over existing windows and doors in Bridgwater homes are replaced one opening at a time, with the wall fully supported. Inside, rooms stay usable, with dust sheeting and making good included where you need it.
Guide price from£770per opening inc VAT
- Postcodes
- TA6
- Population
- about 41,000
- Area
- Somerset
- Pricing region
- South West
What should you know about the ground under Bridgwater?
Bridgwater, Somerset: about 41,000 residents across postcode districts TA6. Nearby places we cover include Burnham-on-Sea (8 miles), Taunton (9 miles) and Weston-super-Mare (15 miles).
Clay soils are found in parts of Somerset. Parts of Somerset lie on a former coalfield, so a coal mining search is worth checking if movement has no obvious cause. Across Somerset, most homes are Bath stone Georgian terraces, Victorian houses in Taunton and Weston-super-Mare, and post-war estates.
What happens during lintel replacement, step by step?
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.
What to look for before calling about lintel replacement
- A diagonal crack climbing away from a window head
- Window or door frames that have started to bind or distort
- Rust stains or flaking steel showing above the frame
Lintel replacement prices in Bridgwater
For Bridgwater we use South West 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 | £770 – £2,600 | per opening |
| Wide or bay openingest. | £2,050 – £4,650 | per opening |
| Making good inside and outest. | £155 – £620 | 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
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
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 Bridgwater
How much should I budget for lintel replacement in Bridgwater?
Guide prices for lintel replacement in Bridgwater start from about £770 per opening, including VAT, on South West 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 Bridgwater?
Yes, Bridgwater is covered, along with postcode districts TA6. We also cover nearby Burnham-on-Sea and Taunton.
Why do houses in Somerset crack?
Somerset mixes Lias clays, Mercia Mudstone, limestone hills and the peat and alluvium of the Levels around Bridgwater, which can settle. The former Somerset coalfield around Radstock and Midsomer Norton left recorded workings. Only an investigation can say why a particular building has moved.
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.
What is a cavity tray and do I need one?
A cavity tray is a damp-proof membrane above a lintel that catches water running down inside a cavity wall and sends it out through weep holes. If your wall is cavity construction and the original lintel had no tray, fitting one with the new lintel is usually sensible.
Related work in Bridgwater
- Retaining wall repairs
- Wall tie replacement
- Boundary and garden wall repairs
- Mining subsidence repairs
- Bowing wall repairs
Lintel replacement near Bridgwater
Our quote tool shows guide prices for a Bridgwater lintel replacement; add photos and we can confirm the likely opening size and type.