Worthing · West Sussex
Lintel replacement in Worthing
Lintels over existing windows and doors in Worthing 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£840per opening inc VAT
- Postcodes
- BN11, BN12, BN13, BN14
- Population
- about 110,000
- Area
- West Sussex
- Pricing region
- South East
Why does the ground in West Sussex matter for lintel replacement?
Postcode districts BN11, BN12, BN13, BN14 cover Worthing, a West Sussex town of about 110,000 people. Neighbouring towns we cover: Lancing (2 miles), Shoreham-by-Sea (5 miles) and Littlehampton (7 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. Typical buildings in West Sussex: Wealden cottages, 1930s semis and bungalows on the coast, and new-town estates in Crawley.
Methods for 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
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
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 supports and make good
Once the mortar has gained strength, props and needles come out and their holes are made good. Pointing, reveals and plaster are finished, and the window is refitted or checked for smooth operation.
Symptoms that point to lintel replacement
- Brickwork above an opening visibly dipping in the middle
- Rust stains or flaking steel showing above the frame
- Window or door frames that have started to bind or distort
Guide prices for lintel replacement in Worthing
Prices in Worthing are worked out on South 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 | £840 – £2,800 | per opening |
| Wide or bay openingest. | £2,250 – £5,050 | per opening |
| Making good inside and outest. | £170 – £670 | per opening |
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.
Frequently asked questions
How much should I budget for lintel replacement in Worthing?
Guide prices for lintel replacement in Worthing 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.
Can you survey a property in Worthing?
Yes, Worthing is covered, along with postcode districts BN11, BN12, BN13, BN14. We also cover nearby Lancing and Shoreham-by-Sea.
Why do houses in West Sussex crack?
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.
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.
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 Worthing
- Subsidence insurance claim repairs
- Chimney stack repairs
- Resin injection ground stabilisation
- Roof structure repairs
- Crack stitching
Lintel replacement near Worthing
For a Worthing lintel, the price is fixed in writing once the repair is specified, with building control included where the work needs it.