Taunton · Somerset
Lintel replacement in Taunton
Lintels over existing windows and doors in Taunton 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
- TA1
- Population
- about 65,000
- Area
- Somerset
- Pricing region
- South West
Is Somerset prone to ground movement?
With roughly 65,000 people, Taunton spans postcode districts TA1 in Somerset. Nearby places we cover include Bridgwater (9 miles), Burnham-on-Sea (16 miles) and Tiverton (19 miles).
Parts of Somerset have clay that can shrink near trees in dry spells. 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
- Window or door frames that have started to bind or distort
- Soft, crumbly timber visible behind the brick face over a bay
- Damp patches on the inside wall just above a window
Lintel replacement prices in Taunton
Prices in Taunton are worked out on South West 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 | £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
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
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 Taunton
How much should I budget for lintel replacement in Taunton?
Guide prices for lintel replacement in Taunton 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 Taunton?
Yes, Taunton is covered, along with postcode districts TA1. We also cover nearby Bridgwater and Burnham-on-Sea.
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.
How do I know if a lintel has failed?
The most common sign is a diagonal or stepped crack running up from the top corner of a window or door. Others include a dip in the brickwork above, rust or rot visible at the lintel edge, and windows that start to stick. A crack alone can have other causes, so it is worth checking.
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.
Related work in Taunton
- Resin injection ground stabilisation
- Chimney stack repairs
- Wall tie replacement
- Structural crack repairs
- Floor joist repairs
Lintel replacement near Taunton
If rust is showing above the windows of your Taunton home, photograph it close up and we will tell you whether replacement is due.