What is supporting the bricks above my window?

JohnB47

The line of bricks immediately above our big kitchen window have no visable support, as viewed from outside. The joints all have small cracks in, despite being repointed when the pvc window was put in about ten years ago. Prior to that there was a wooden framed window and prior to that again there were two seperate concrete lintels above two doorways - a coalhole and outside loo, which was the original design of the house. The inside looks fine - no cracks or anything amiss, so I believe there is a lintel of some sort fitted. But why can't I see an edge of metal indicating the ledge that the bricks are resting on?

I say this because we had a lintel fitted (a catnic, i think ) above a new set of patio doors and I can see a definite metal plate there on which the bricks are resting. It projects right out to the outer face of the bricks. No evidence of that above the window.

I need to remove the sealant above this window and renew it when the weather drys off a bit and I'll look into the gap and see whats going on in there (the gap is about half an inch). But any ideas what's holding those bricks up? Any diagrams anyone could point me to?

Ps, the house was built in 1930 and is cavity walled. Thanks.

missindecisive

maybe..ahem...there isn't one ?

marleyboy

If your planning on restoring the window, then is the best time to check the lintel was replaced with some form of support. If all you see is a row of bricks, get yourself a lintel to support their weight.

anotherbaldrick

Perhaps the inner leaf wall is sitting on a lintel which is above the window head and the outer leaf is just hanging on the inner wall leaf . If so not good !

Ruski

Probably a poured concrete lintel between the leaves of the wall, not uncommon.

If you're really interested then drill a hole between the soldiers, and if you hit nothing after 4" then it won't be filled with concrete.

Or you could remove a brick and have a look-see!

HTH

Russ

jcb208

If its like our house early 70,s it may not have an outer skin lintel,just the inner skin will be a concrete one

cyclonebri1

The outer skin still needs support:mad::mad::mad:, the above post is incorrect.

Given that cavities have gotten larger, it's not uncommon for the lip of a pressed steel lintel to be hidden just over the window frame within the reveal.

Ruski

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

the above post is incorrect.

Expand?? :D:D

cyclonebri1

Ruski wrote: »

Expand?? :D:D

Ok, How could anything in the cavity support the outer skin????

The lintel has to hold up both leaves.:A:A:A:A

JohnB47

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

The outer skin still needs support:mad::mad::mad:, the above post is incorrect.

Given that cavities have gotten larger, it's not uncommon for the lip of a pressed steel lintel to be hidden just over the window frame within the reveal.

Thanks to everyone else but this post is, I hope, the most likely. The window frame does sit more towards the outside face of the brickwork than on other windows, as if its not alligned with the cavity. So I think when I poke around, when it finally dries up, that I'll find something supporting the inner part of those bricks. If so, I would wish that it projected further out and supported all of the brick bottom surface. Is there anything that could be added to do that, rather than completely replace the lintel?

Thanks again all.

Yorkie1

You can't see the lintels inserted when I had DG a few years ago, although you can see from the repointing where they had to take bricks out either side in order to insert it.