Littlehampton · West Sussex
Lintel replacement in Littlehampton
Bay windows on older houses around Littlehampton often hide a timber lintel behind the face brickwork. When that timber rots, the bay brickwork drops and cracks, and replacing it properly means supporting the wall above throughout the job.
Guide price from£840per opening inc VAT
- Postcodes
- BN17
- Population
- about 59,000
- Area
- West Sussex
- Pricing region
- South East
Is West Sussex prone to ground movement?
Littlehampton, West Sussex: about 59,000 residents across postcode districts BN17. If you are just outside Littlehampton, we also cover Bognor Regis (6 miles), Worthing (7 miles) and Lancing (10 miles).
West Sussex is one of the parts of the UK where clay soils are most likely to move with the seasons. Ground movement here is more often linked to soils, drains and trees than to mining. What you mostly find across West Sussex: Wealden cottages, 1930s semis and bungalows on the coast, and new-town estates in Crawley.
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.
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.
What to look for before calling about lintel replacement
- Soft, crumbly timber visible behind the brick face over a bay
- A diagonal crack climbing away from a window head
- Damp patches on the inside wall just above a window
Lintel replacement prices in Littlehampton
The ranges below reflect typical South East 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 | £840 – £2,800 | per opening |
| Wide or bay openingest. | £2,250 – £5,050 | per opening |
| Making good inside and outest. | £170 – £670 | per opening |
How we usually approach 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
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 Littlehampton
What is the price of lintel replacement in Littlehampton?
Guide prices for lintel replacement in Littlehampton start from about £840 per opening, including VAT, on South East rates. Your fixed written price follows photos or a survey and depends on the extent of the work and access.
Do you carry out lintel replacement in Littlehampton?
We do. Littlehampton and the surrounding area are covered, including nearby Bognor Regis and Worthing. A free initial assessment from your photos is the first step.
Does the ground around Littlehampton cause cracking?
North West Sussex around Crawley and Horsham sits on Weald Clay, the South Downs are chalk, and the coastal plain has brickearth and gravels. The Weald Clay is prone to shrink-swell movement near trees. 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.
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.
More repairs we carry out in Littlehampton
- Bay window subsidence repairs
- Chimney stack repairs
- Boundary and garden wall repairs
- Resin injection ground stabilisation
- Concrete repairs
Lintel replacement near Littlehampton
For a Littlehampton lintel, the price is fixed in writing once the repair is specified, with building control included where the work needs it.