concrete lintel

parob

Hi. I have just noticed a hole in the 4ft concrete lintel above our upstairs bedroom window. A piece of the concrete face has fallen off exposing metal rods which look as if they have corroded. There is a small crack extending horizontally from the damage. Is repair or replacement the best option, and does anyone have any idea of the kind of price we should be paying for someone to do the job for us? Many thanks.

iamcornholio

This type of delamination of the cover can not be satisfactorily repaired.

However, the urgency of replacement or the practicallity of a temporary repair will depend on several factors. BTW, a temporary repair can last many years

You are looking at a good few hundred £'s for this, as access is the main issue.

If this lintel is just an external one then it's easier to replace than if the lintel is a single one as thick as the wall

wallbash

Don't Panic. A reinforced concrete lintel in an above an upstairs window is over engineered. Was not so many years ago that they did not even bother with lintels
( brick headers ) or the lintel was just a piece of wood. .Would I get it replaced , if I was thinking of selling , yes , would I rush to do anything if I was happy .... no!.

exposing metal rods which look as if they have corroded.

Bit rusty , or falling apart .

ormus

lintels are fairly inexpensive. its the labour costs that push it up.
i would replace (not repair) the lintel if youre moving or not.

parob

Thanks for all your comments. I think we will look into replacing it as we are just about to have a conservatory put on that wall which would then make access even more of an issue. I'm not sure how bad the damage is as it is too high up to see properly, but it looks as if the rods are intact, just badly rusted. I'm not sure if the lintel is full width or just external - it's a mid 1960's brick built cavity house, part timber clad, but this is on a brick wall. I'll get a couple of quotes first.

DVardysShadow

OK, if it is going to be within the conservatory space and protected from damp, possibly some treatment to stabilise the rust and a repair may be sufficient.

wallbash

but it looks as if the rods are intact, just badly rusted

Those rods are tough , even if they have been exposed for years , I can't imagine any real integral weakness . A few pictures might help us .

DVardysShadow

wallbash wrote: »

Those rods are tough , even if they have been exposed for years , I can't imagine any real integral weakness . A few pictures might help us .

The problem is the rust continuing to develop and jacking the concrete away from the metal, which will ultimately result in total failure

maninthestreet

Surely this is concreate cancer?

cybergibbons

Once the initial layer of rust has formed, the rods can last for years and years. Like DVardysShadow says though, once the concrete has cracked, rust will progress further along the rod, splitting the lintel until not much is left of it.

It's a crap job replacing one, but it's made a lot crapper if there is a massive glass box underneath you. Get it done now.

iamcornholio

maninthestreet wrote: »

Surely this is concreate cancer?

No, that is different

This is a nothing more than a defective lintel with spalling caused by rust expansion