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What is supporting the bricks above my window?

2

Comments

  • JohnB47
    JohnB47 Posts: 2,731 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Yorkie1 wrote: »
    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.

    Sorry, DG is what exactly?
  • Ruski
    Ruski Posts: 1,628 Forumite
    cyclonebri1 wrote: »
    Ok, How could anything in the cavity support the outer skin????

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

    Which is exactly what pouring concrete does!!

    See?? :beer:

    Russ
    Perfection takes time: don't expect miracles in a day :D
  • tony6403
    tony6403 Posts: 1,257 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Ruski wrote: »
    Which is exactly what pouring concrete does!!

    See?? :beer:

    Russ
    Russ , you've got to be having a joke here :rotfl:.
    Forgotten but not gone.
  • Yorkie1
    Yorkie1 Posts: 12,574 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    JohnB47 wrote: »
    Sorry, DG is what exactly?

    DG = double glazing :)
  • Ruski
    Ruski Posts: 1,628 Forumite
    tony6403 wrote: »
    Russ , you've got to be having a joke here :rotfl:.

    Nope!

    Outer skin built around and atop the original timber windowframes, inner skin supported by 6x1 (whilst being laid) and then the cavity between is filled with rebar and concrete (aka cast in situ) - thus making the skins 'at one' with eachother and the rebar gives it the strength. Weep holes in the next course up.

    Obviously building control wouldn't allw this any more - but it was common practice on the 60's, especially on bungalows.

    As they say - you learn something new every day :beer:

    HTH

    Russ
    Perfection takes time: don't expect miracles in a day :D
  • Kernel_Sanders
    Kernel_Sanders Posts: 3,617 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Before fitting a venetian blind, I once ascertained a lintel was metal by drilling two vertical holes and inserting the probes of a battery-and-bulb circuit tester.
  • tony6403
    tony6403 Posts: 1,257 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Ruski wrote: »
    Nope!

    Outer skin built around and atop the original timber windowframes, inner skin supported by 6x1 (whilst being laid) and then the cavity between is filled with rebar and concrete (aka cast in situ) - thus making the skins 'at one' with eachother and the rebar gives it the strength. Weep holes in the next course up.

    Obviously building control wouldn't allw this any more - but it was common practice on the 60's, especially on bungalows.

    As they say - you learn something new every day :beer:

    HTH

    Russ

    Russ - I have encountered brickwork laid directly onto smaller wooden windows. In these cases the inner leaf has always had steels incorporated.
    I have seen larger openings dealt with by casting a substantial lintel on-site (my house has one). Where this has been done it obviously shows - the external part protrudes and has a drip channel.

    Reinforced concrete cast into the cavity has no load bearing properties whatsoever and quite frankly the idea is absurd.
    Forgotten but not gone.
  • Ruski
    Ruski Posts: 1,628 Forumite
    tony6403 wrote: »
    Reinforced concrete cast into the cavity has no load bearing properties whatsoever and quite frankly the idea is absurd.

    That's why they fail over time and like I said wouldn't be allowed now - but that's what I've got - in fact all the properties in my close are the same (no suprise there!)

    Absurd it is - all I'm enlightening you to is the fact that this IS a method used in the past :D

    Have fun with your new knowledge, just don't go copying it :beer:

    Russ
    Perfection takes time: don't expect miracles in a day :D
  • Ninnut85
    Ninnut85 Posts: 124 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Combo Breaker
    None of the windows in my house have an outer lintel over them. Only the inner walls have lintels.
    It's a 60's house and the outer walls were just built but putting the bricks straight on top of the original windows as the house was being built.
    Now a proud home owner after saving a deposit for 2 years :j
  • cyclonebri1
    cyclonebri1 Posts: 12,827 Forumite
    tony6403 wrote: »
    Russ , you've got to be having a joke here :rotfl:.

    I hope he is, otherwise he should refrain from offering "advice"
    I like the thanks button, but ,please, an I agree button.

    Will the grammar and spelling police respect I do make grammatical errors, and have carp spelling, no need to remind me.;)

    Always expect the unexpected:eek:and then you won't be dissapointed
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