Corroded lintels are a leading cause of cracking above windows and doors. We extract failed lintels and install correctly-specified galvanised or stainless replacements, sequenced to minimise disruption.
What is a lintel?
A lintel is a structural bar, usually steel angle, T-bar, or universal beam, that spans the top of every window and door opening, supporting the weight of the brickwork above. In Australian construction it’s typically galvanised mild steel, sometimes stainless on coastal or premium builds, and occasionally an arch bar or concrete lintel on heritage stock.
When the protective galvanising fails, usually after 40–80 years, the steel begins to rust. As rust forms, it expands to up to seven times the original steel volume. That expansion is what cracks the brickwork above and below the lintel and pushes the head of the opening upward.
Signs of lintel failure
Our replacement process
Temporary propping
Acrow props and timber spreaders take the load off the lintel before any cutting begins. Window and frame protected.
Extract the corroded lintel
Bricks above are carefully removed in two to three courses. The old lintel is cut and lifted out. Cavity cleaned of rust and debris.
Install the new lintel
New galvanised or stainless lintel installed with correct end bearing, typically 150mm minimum each side, bedded in fresh mortar.
Rebuild and reinstate
Salvageable bricks reinstated, replacements sourced and matched if required. Joints repointed. Cavity flashing replaced over the new lintel as standard.
Material specifications
For builders
Lintel replacements often arrive late in a programme, the cracking is finally diagnosed once the painters or plasterers see it properly. We can arrive within a few days of being called, prop and extract in a single visit, and have the wall structurally reinstated within the week.
For larger projects with multiple lintels, we sequence work to keep the rest of the trades moving, one elevation at a time, or one floor at a time, with full make-good and clean-up between rooms.
FAQ
How long does lintel replacement take?
A single window or door lintel typically takes one to two days from propping to clean-up. A multi-lintel job, for example, every window on one elevation, usually runs three to five days depending on access and the brick match required.
Do you need council approval?
Like-for-like replacement of a structural lintel is generally classed as maintenance and exempt from approval. Heritage-listed properties or works that change the opening size are different, we’ll flag that early and can liaise with your council’s heritage advisor if needed.
What specification should I specify?
For a typical 900mm domestic window opening on inland brick veneer, a 90×90×6 EA galvanised steel angle is standard. Wider spans, double-leaf walls, or coastal exposure all push the spec up. We’ll calculate and specify as part of the quote, or work to your engineer’s spec if one has been provided.
Get a detailed quote within 24 hours. Photos accepted via our Project Brief form.