Swindon · Wiltshire
Lintel replacement in Swindon
Lintels over existing windows and doors in Swindon 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
- SN1, SN2, SN3
- Population
- about 200,000
- Area
- Wiltshire
- Pricing region
- South West
Why does the ground in Wiltshire matter for lintel replacement?
We cover Swindon and its postcode districts SN1, SN2, SN3, part of Wiltshire, with a population of roughly 200,000. Nearby places we cover include Calne (13 miles), Cirencester (14 miles) and Carterton (16 miles).
Parts of Wiltshire have clay that can shrink near trees in dry spells. Ground movement here is more often linked to soils, drains and trees than to mining. Housing stock in Wiltshire: Stone cottages, railway terraces in Swindon, and large post-war and new-build 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.
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.
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.
What to look for before calling about lintel replacement
- Rust stains or flaking steel showing above the frame
- Damp patches on the inside wall just above a window
- Brickwork above an opening visibly dipping in the middle
Lintel replacement prices in Swindon
Prices in Swindon 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
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
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 Swindon
How much should I budget for lintel replacement in Swindon?
Guide prices for lintel replacement in Swindon 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 Swindon?
Yes. We take enquiries from across Swindon, including SN1, SN2, SN3, and from nearby places such as Calne and Cirencester. Send photos for a free initial view and we will tell you what happens next.
Why do houses in Wiltshire crack?
Southern Wiltshire is chalk, while the north around Swindon, Chippenham and Trowbridge sits on Oxford and Kimmeridge Clays that are prone to seasonal movement near trees. Bath stone was mined underground around Corsham. Only an investigation can say why a particular building has moved.
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.
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 Swindon
- Extension pulling away repairs
- Bowing wall repairs
- Floor joist repairs
- Crack stitching
- Structural surveys and crack monitoring
Lintel replacement near Swindon
You will get a no-obligation written quote for each Swindon lintel, splitting out the lintel itself, the propping and the making good.