How to tell if lintels were fitted

thebaldwindowfitter

JimmyTheWig wrote: »

Didn't mean to start an argument!
I'll definitely ask the installers when they come back. (And I agree with the "asking out of interest" approach, pipkin!)

Can't watch what they do next time as it's only bay windows left, which (apparently) don't need lintels.

Without wanting to cause more arguments, is there a consensus that the row of bricks above the window would have been removed to get a lintel in? I.e. the mortar between those bricks would be new?

Yes you should . i am not trying to argue by the way pointing out what wallbash has said in first instance was wrong and misleading .If the bays are load bearing make sure they use load bearing poles (jack legs) they are adjustable and support any weight from above

cyclonebri1

JimmyTheWig wrote: »

Didn't mean to start an argument!
I'll definitely ask the installers when they come back. (And I agree with the "asking out of interest" approach, pipkin!)

Can't watch what they do next time as it's only bay windows left, which (apparently) don't need lintels.

Without wanting to cause more arguments, is there a consensus that the row of bricks above the window would have been removed to get a lintel in? I.e. the mortar between those bricks would be new?

Again as the BWF says, these are load bearing and critical.
Plastic windows below must be suitably reinforced to take this load, hopefully they will be , but the property NUST be supported whilst the old frames are out.

JimmyTheWig

When they made the first attempt at the bay (before realising the wrong size panels had been made!) they had it jacked up so I'm happy from that point of view.

I'll have a closer look at the mortar between the bricks above the windows at the weekend then speak to the fitters when they come back.

Many thanks, everyone...

cyclonebri1

I hope it is still jacked up if they removed anything??

paddyrg

Can you get a strong magnet (Neodymium, half an inch cube maybe) and see if you can feel the magnetic pull? If not, can you get a metal detector and scan for them?

thebaldwindowfitter

when im refering to bay pole jacks im refering to the supports the windows are fastened to in the corner when they are made up not supporting the load while they are taken out
http://www.windowware.co.uk/product.php?tln=WINDOW&itemcat=BAYPOLES&shopprodid=BAYPOLES

JimmyTheWig

Oh I see. Don't know if they used those or not...

27col

It's not possible to remove and replace bricks without there being some sign of the work. The chances of replacing the old mortar with new mortar of the same colour is extremely low.

cyclonebri1

wallbash wrote: »

You are very unlikely to see a modern steel lintel ,the bulk of the metal is in the cavity .



No, more likely just a removing the narrow mortar bed and sliding it in .

Google modern metal lintels , and you will see how little disturbance is now required.

I'm afraid that's not correct, they aren't simply flat and some brickwork has to be removed to allow fitting. I correct this as the OP was right in his expectation of seeing evidence in his first post as I and several others have said.
You just have sown doubt in his mind?


OP, is this a house or bungalow?, the load above is massively greater if a house with curved bays directly over each other.

Ruski

Don't forget, Bri, that the window is already removed and thus removing headers is not always necessary as there may well be enough room to 'slide' in the 'L' shaped steel under the headers in the 'groove' mentioned above if there is sufficient room in the cavity to manoeuvre.


Russ