2nd Opinion on Lintel for Patio Door

[evo97]

I don't normally question another trades work but Im a little concerned about a lintel that's been used for my patio door install.

The original timber frame door has been removed for a UPVC patio door. I knew in advance a lintel would be required due to cracked bricks and mortar.

Unfortunately work was done while I wasn't at home and the Mrs informed be no acrow prop was used (brave) and this skinny lintel has been fitted? I was expecting a good heavy duty concrete one to be fitted for a 2.7m span

Anyway pictures paint a million words (excuse the mess as the loung/diner is in the process of being decorated)

Any advice on the lintel used is ok for the job? Im going to take the day off work tommoz and ask some questions while they finish off but for now over to you clever lot!!

Original door



New Door



Lintel Used and Cracks in Brickwork

[evo97]

The lintel only supports the outer course of bricks. Yep it does look a mess! I've had several windows replaced in property's in the past by different company's and I thought expanding foam and mastic was the norm? Anyway back to the lintel is it up to the job?

[evo97]

Thought I would add No cracks on the inner wall and the external bricks haven't got any worse in the 2 yrs I've owned the place.

[evo97]

In other words are you saying that the lintel (if you can call it that) isnt up to the job?

[evo97]

Thanks for the feedback guys.
Yes it looks just like flat bar by the looks of it? I know they are compromised with the overhang of the lintel due to the conservatory but that should of been spotted on the survey! Surly a full brick length could of been used to sit the lintel on?

Internal picture

[evo97]

Yes they are fensa registered. They fitted my windows and I didn't have any concerns but I'm a little worried with the above!

[evo97]

You have me worried now! I would just stop them continuing in the morning but there isn't any glass installed yet so it's a tad cold in here tonight.

[evo97]

I don't think the timber door was the original the house was built in 66 if that helps with design.

[evo97]

In the original qoute/survey I did insist on a lintol to be supplied and accepted the extra cost involved

Edited by evo97 on Thursday 11th February 13:52

[evo97]

TA14 said:

Maybe you should have asked for a suitable lintol?

How did you get on this morning?

The installers have finished off fitting the door and I will be in touch with the company tommorow as I'm not happy with the lintol used

[evo97]

h8tax said:

Listen to this man - he knows what he's talking about and you can see from the original photo its an angle, not a flat bar. The bearings look too small, and yes the bearing bricks need replacing. It is a bit bodgy looking though with the foam etc. I assume it was a very cheap quote.

Edited by h8tax on Thursday 11th February 14:06

Yes it was a cheap price.
Maybe I'm thick but the steel used looks straight and not angled??

[evo97]

TA14 said:

With a screwdriver/prodder and a torch can't you tell what it is?

Yes it's straight....it doesn't angle back into cavity? But the replies on here seem to suggest it's angled?

[evo97]

Well just had the company on the blower chasing up payment.
He's coming to inspect in the morning but has insisted flat iron lintol normal practice??!!??

I really am not trying to hold up paying the company but I know once money has been exchanged the work won't be rectified. I've already paid £700 and there is a balance of £700 to pay. The price for the lintel was £264 but I'm not happy with the lintol used or the install of the lintel.
Also the patio isn't fixed ar the top as in bolted/screwed like the sides is this also normal practice. Probably due to the steel that's there! The lintol also hasn't seen no rust protection or mortar just expanding foam and clear silicone.

[evo97]

andy43 said:

Flat iron is not going to hold up anything. It needs to have a vertical element. Outer leaf may not be holding your roof up, but there's a lot of bricks up there, and they WILL move. Slidey-slidey has a central post, but I bet it's just sat on a plastic 150mm cill. Won't be sliding for long.
So your pics are showing the completed job?

No pictures are from yesterday. I did ask them to not bother sealing the gap between frame and brickwork as I'm going to get the brickwork rendered/plastered (plasterer mentioned this as easier to get a angle bead in) but that isn't going to happen until I know there won't be any brickwork movement and going by the lintol used there will be!

Edited by evo97 on Thursday 11th February 17:18

[evo97]

Muppet32 said:

Flat iron plate is definitely not standard practice and completely unsuitable. It wouldn't even support its own weight over that distance.

If it's RSA (Angle) or Tee (very unlikely) then, as a lintel it would be ok. However, the bearings are not sufficient.

You can't really get away with less than 100mm at each end. And that 100mm should be a full bedded bearing, not teetering on the edge of a brick missing half its rear face with expanding foam covering the fact there's fück all there.

Really, they need to supply a new piece of 150x100 RSA so it's long enough for a decent bearing on each end and also replace the bearing bricks at each end with complete bricks. They may not be able to find matching bricks and the brickwork patching will always show, but that's how it should have been done.

It probably won't fall down, as it is, so how you want to play it - is up to you

Thanks again for all your input gents.
Tomorrow I can fire all this back to him. To be honest I knew deep down it wasn't correct that's why I posted a thread on here. At least I've been educated and now can insist on a correct lintol installed with a minimum 100mm bearing on brickwork.

Thanks again!

[evo97]

Spudler said:

Only because we'd never believe anyone could be so retarded as to slide in a flat steel...could they?

In this day and age nothing surprises me mate. Thing is as soon as I mentioned the lintel and silicone to the manager he wasn't surprised at all and sort of passed it off as normal and common practice. I think he's in for a shock in the morning when he's expecting to collect 700 notes!
I'm a mechanic and have seen some toe curling repairs done on cars through the years also.

[evo97]

Thanks again you lovely lot! You educated me and After a discussion that kept going around in circles they are going to instal a concrete lintol.

[evo97]

DrDeAtH said:

OP said it as being rendered/plastered, so visual impact of a concrete lintol would not be an issue.

Correct