Westbury · Wiltshire
Lintel replacement in Westbury
Lintels over existing windows and doors in Westbury 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
- BA13
- Population
- about 17,000
- Area
- Wiltshire
- Pricing region
- South West
What should you know about the ground under Westbury?
Westbury (BA13) has around 17,000 residents and sits in Wiltshire. We also take enquiries from nearby Warminster (4 miles), Trowbridge (4 miles) and Frome (6 miles).
Wiltshire has a mix of ground, with clay in some places and firmer rock in others. Ground movement here is more often linked to soils, drains and trees than to mining. Typical buildings in Wiltshire: Stone cottages, railway terraces in Swindon, and large post-war and new-build estates.
Symptoms that point to lintel replacement
- Damp patches on the inside wall just above a window
- Window or door frames that have started to bind or distort
- Brickwork above an opening visibly dipping in the middle
Guide prices for lintel replacement in Westbury
The ranges below reflect typical South West 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 | £770 – £2,600 | per opening |
| Wide or bay openingest. | £2,050 – £4,650 | per opening |
| Making good inside and outest. | £155 – £620 | per opening |
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.
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.
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 Westbury?
Guide prices for lintel replacement in Westbury 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 Westbury?
Yes, Westbury is covered, along with postcode districts BA13. We also cover nearby Warminster and Trowbridge.
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.
How long does it take to replace a lintel?
Most single lintels are replaced in one to two days. The props stay in until the mortar has gained enough strength, and wide bays or openings with both inner and outer lintels can take longer. The window can usually be used again once the supports come out.
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.
Related work in Westbury
- Structural surveys and crack monitoring
- Roof structure repairs
- Chimney stack repairs
- Crack stitching
- Resin injection ground stabilisation
Lintel replacement near Westbury
You will get a no-obligation written quote for each Westbury lintel, splitting out the lintel itself, the propping and the making good.