Window Lintels ,yes or no???

stu68

Hi,
Just Moved in to an old house which had an extension put on in the late 70s I have had a glazing firm round to quote for upvc windows, but they say there is a problem in that none of the windows appear to have Lintels. There is a lead flashing (sort of ) running along the top of a couple of the windows and on the others a felt flashing ,this flashing (for want of a better word) is laid along the top of the windows with just the edge visible ,just like a damp proof course .I have pushed a thin blade into a slight gap at the top of one of the windows and cannot feel any form of Lintel at all ,apart from at one end I can just about make out a pieces of metal ,quite thin about 3inches long coming out from the top corner of the window?? Any ideas.
Thanks

Hoploz

I saw this on Houses Under The Hammer last week! Apparently some era houses weren't built with lintels and the windows themselves were used as support. I missed what era it was but IMO the house looked like somewhere about 1920s, don't know if that matches yours.
They said you have to get special supporting windows, or else I guess put in a lintel yourself.

Your glazing firm should be able to advise I would have thought. If not then get another company round and see what they say.

ormus

DG companies do this a lot. it appears that the old wooden windows will do as its own lintel, but the upvc windows will not.
my SIL had lintels fitted to all his windows (small) when he had DG fitted.

lintels from wickes are only about 10/20 quid.

danielfulshaw

Under current building regs, windows are still permitted to be load bearing structures...which my builder was amazed at but a quick call to building control will confirm. And yes, this was the norm in older houses so removing them is a major hassle and expense. Have you considered keeping your existing windows? Is it a period house? Are they rotten?

adaze

I wouldn't want my walls held up by uPVC windows! :eek:

danielfulshaw

neither would I! They are not designed to which is why a suitable like-for like wooden replacement may be better if the windows are beyond economical repair. Remember that the double glazing company will want to sell you their windows regardless of how much hassle it is - the cost of getting new wooden windows - even modern double glazed wooden windows - may be offset by the cost of not having to muck around with lintels and plastering etc. It may also be more in keeping with the property!

daveyjp

Are they sure it doesn't have a "catnic" lintel? This is made of metal and is hidden by brickwork - quite common in 1970s houses (my house circa 1978 has them).

http://www.buildstore.co.uk/materials/catnic.html

bigdoozer

stu68 wrote: »

Hi,
Just Moved in to an old house which had an extension put on in the late 70s I have had a glazing firm round to quote for upvc windows, but they say there is a problem in that none of the windows appear to have Lintels. There is a lead flashing (sort of ) running along the top of a couple of the windows and on the others a felt flashing ,this flashing (for want of a better word) is laid along the top of the windows with just the edge visible ,just like a damp proof course .I have pushed a thin blade into a slight gap at the top of one of the windows and cannot feel any form of Lintel at all ,apart from at one end I can just about make out a pieces of metal ,quite thin about 3inches long coming out from the top corner of the window?? Any ideas.
Thanks

get a good magnet and see if it sticks to the inner or outer edges near to the window . Catnic lintels are seel and not much can be seen from the outside
They are shaped to a 'w' or _V_ like this if the V was the other way up. Only way a part from that is to take a window out.