Lintel Replacement. What are lintels?
Above your window and door openings there is a cross beam placed across to ensure support from the load bearing masonry structure it supports.
Meaning your windows and doors on the first floor of your home would need lintel beams above them to support the second and even third floor’s structure so it will not be unsound and precarious.
A lintel transfers the heavy load of the support walls above it to the frames on each side of the beam.
A lintel beam width is equal to the width of the wall in which it is being built. The end of the beam will be encased within the wall for masonry support.
There are several different types of lintel beams for construction and a home or business owner should have a contractor make assessments to your masonry project to decide which to use.
It is important to have your lintel beams installed and erected correctly the first time saving you time, money, and frustration in the long run.
Improperly installed lintel beams will only result in structure problems and render another lintel replacement.
Request a free site visit with General Masonry Construction and we will inspect your structure and see what needs to happen with your lintels.
After that you will receive a fair estimate within 24 hours.
All masonry services are completed per Building Code specifications and are warrantied.
Contact General Masonry Construction today in Northbrook, IL to inquire more about Illinois lintel replacement today!
What material are lintel beams made of?
Lintel beams can be made of several materials, from wood, to brick, to steel. Many older architectural structures have wooden lintel beams as that was the material of the time.
Wooden lintel beams are hardly used any longer as they are extremely susceptible to fire, rotting due to water damage and moisture, and are also not very cost effective when compared to more durable masonry materials.
Modern masonry construction uses the following lintel beams when building:
- Steel Lintels: Steel Lintels are used when the structure is large and very heavy and the opening to your door or window is exceptionally large. Steel lintels are extremely durable and load bearing.
- Brick Lintels: Brick lintels are used when the structure is not as load bearing and your door or window opening is less than a yard and is reinforced with stirrups within the building.
- Stone Lintels: Stone lintels are commonly used for your door and window beams as stone is a building material that is found everywhere, thus it is more cost effective due to its availability.
- Concrete Lintels: Concrete lintels are widely used as they are economical, load bearing, and fire resistant and are reinforced with stirrups like brick lintels.
Request a free site visit with General Masonry Construction and we will inspect your structure and see what needs to happen with your lintels. After that you will receive a fair estimate within 24 hours.
All masonry services are completed per Building Code specifications and are warrantied.
Contact General Masonry Construction today in Northbrook, IL to inquire more about Illinois lintel replacement today!
Why do we need to replace lintels in doors and windows?
You will need to replace deteriorating lintel beams especially if your home or business is an older one. If you have wooden lintel beams than you may have rotting from water intrusion from rain, snow, and moisture build up thus leaving your structure at risk for a myriad of problems. Your foundation could collapse above your windows and doors or your water damage problem can get worse and cause mold and other airborne issues.
Steel lintels will need replacing when they rust, and rusting can happen after the seasons have taken their toll. Freeze and thaw cycles will allow your lintels and foundation to expand and contract and if your lintels have begun to rust then this expanding and contracting will crack your steel lintel. After a frigid Winter and then a wet Spring a home or business owner’s steel lintels will be extremely vulnerable to corrosion possibly causing your lintels to fail.
It is extremely dangerous if your steel lintels fail, and your home or business is no longer structurally sound, and this is a critical situation that needs to be remedied immediately by an expert. Our skilled team of masons and contractors can execute your lintel replacement expertly, so you do not have to worry about your property being unsafe.
Have one of our experts inspect your shelf angles or lintel beams to see what condition they are in preferably before the Winter and Spring months. They can detect whether repairing and maintenance is required to your existing lintel beams or if an entire lintel replacement is necessary due to critically deteriorated materials.
Request a free site visit with General Masonry Construction and we will inspect your structure and see what needs to happen with your lintels. After that you will receive a fair estimate within 24 hours. All masonry services are completed per Building Code specifications and are warrantied. Contact General Masonry Construction today in Northbrook, IL to inquire more about Illinois lintel replacement today!