Tyne and Wear · England
Lintel replacement in Tyne and Wear
Tyne and Wear has its own mix of ground and building types, and that shapes how lintel replacement is done here. Parts of Tyne and Wear have clay that can shrink near trees in dry spells.
Guide price from£690per opening inc VAT
- Area
- Tyne and Wear
- Pricing region
- North East
- Ground
- Clay in parts
- Towns listed
- 9
What is the ground like in Tyne and Wear?
Tyne and Wear lies on the Durham and Northumberland coalfield, with old shallow workings recorded beneath parts of Newcastle, Gateshead and Sunderland, mostly under a cover of glacial clay.
Historic coal workings are recorded beneath parts of Tyne and Wear, and a coal mining search is worth checking where movement is unexplained. Across Tyne and Wear, most homes are Tyneside flats and terraces, Victorian villas, inter-war council estates and post-war semis.
From first photo to finished repair
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.
Symptoms that point to lintel replacement
- Brickwork above an opening visibly dipping in the middle
- Soft, crumbly timber visible behind the brick face over a bay
- Window or door frames that have started to bind or distort
- Damp patches on the inside wall just above a window
Guide prices for lintel replacement in Tyne and Wear
Guide prices below are for homes in Tyne and Wear, on North East 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 | £690 – £2,300 | per opening |
| Wide or bay openingest. | £1,850 – £4,150 | per opening |
| Making good inside and outest. | £140 – £550 | per opening |
Methods for lintel replacement
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
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
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
Do you need approval 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.
Find lintel replacement in your Tyne and Wear town
- Newcastle upon Tyne
- Sunderland
- South Shields
- Washington
- Wallsend
- Whitley Bay
- Jarrow
- Whickham
- Blaydon-on-Tyne
Frequently asked questions
Why do houses in Tyne and Wear crack?
Tyne and Wear lies on the Durham and Northumberland coalfield, with old shallow workings recorded beneath parts of Newcastle, Gateshead and Sunderland, mostly under a cover of glacial clay. Historic coal workings are recorded beneath parts of Tyne and Wear, and a coal mining search is worth checking where movement is unexplained. Only an investigation on site can say why a particular building has moved.
How much will lintel replacement cost in Tyne and Wear?
On North East rates, lintel replacement starts from about £690 per opening, including VAT. The written price depends on the extent of the damage, access and whether an engineer or building control is needed.
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.
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.
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.