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https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl DIY Forum >> Building Questions >> Steel lintel above window sticks out https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1510932626 Message started by alimc on Nov 17^th, 2017, 3:30pm

Title: Steel lintel above window sticks out
Post by alimc on Nov 17^th, 2017, 3:30pm

[gallery fullsize]alimc/1510932564.jpg[/gallery]

We recently had a door and window put in where originally there was just a window. But the steel lintel seems to stick out at an odd angle. Is there any way that this can be either trimmed or neatly hidden?

Title: Re: Steel lintel above window sticks out
Post by stuart45 on Nov 17^th, 2017, 3:58pm

Are you sure it's not a lead tray instead of a lintel?

Title: Re: Steel lintel above window sticks out
Post by woodsmith on Nov 17^th, 2017, 5:03pm

If it were lead you could just fold it and dress it down and back, but from the regular marks it looks like a lintel to me. In which case, other than getting them back to put it in properly, I wouldn't advise touching it. If you cut off the excess you would expose the steel to corrosion and potentially void it's structural integrity and any warranty.

It doesn't look like it does much though as it appears to be just supporting 3 courses of bricks, so it may not be such a big job to put it back right. On the other hand, unless they were just incompetent, there may well be something in the wall which prevents it sitting back flush with the front of the bricks.

First step is to get them back and tell them you are unhappy about it. It isn't right as the lintel should sit back from the front edge of the bricks and, although I doubt it will cause you any problems, it does look unsightly.

Title: Re: Steel lintel above window sticks out
Post by thescruff on Nov 17^th, 2017, 9:43pm

The sides and the head looks as though it's just been rendered so let's hope it's a lintel

Title: Re: Steel lintel above window sticks out
Post by Natedog on Nov 18^th, 2017, 8:06pm

Has it been put like that for water to drip off?

Title: Re: Steel lintel above window sticks out
Post by woodsmith on Nov 19^th, 2017, 9:08am

Natedog wrote on Nov 18^th, 2017, 8:06pm:

Has it been put like that for water to drip off?

I think it's more cock up than design. :D

Title: Re: Steel lintel above window sticks out
Post by londonman on Dec 8^th, 2017, 9:02am

That's never a lintel. Lintels these days are concrete. If it was steel then it would be a I-section....so where's the other half of the I ?

More likely a lead strip...easy enough for the OP to find out, If he can move it with his fingers then it's lead.

Title: Re: Steel lintel above window sticks out
Post by thescruff on Dec 8^th, 2017, 9:59am

londonman wrote on Dec 8^th, 2017, 9:02am:

I keep looking at the head of the window and wondering what is holding it up, it looks likes about a 20mm render.

Title: Re: Steel lintel above window sticks out
Post by woodsmith on Dec 8^th, 2017, 7:05pm

It looks like a Catnic type lintel to me. You wouldn't use a steel I beam or concrete lintel in this position.

Title: Re: Steel lintel above window sticks out
Post by londonman on Dec 17^th, 2017, 9:34pm

woodsmith wrote on Dec 8^th, 2017, 7:05pm:

It looks like a Catnic type lintel to me. You wouldn't use a steel I beam or concrete lintel in this position.

Try telling my builder that !

Title: Re: Steel lintel above window sticks out
Post by woodsmith on Dec 18^th, 2017, 10:59am

londonman wrote on Dec 17^th, 2017, 9:34pm:

woodsmith wrote on Dec 8^th, 2017, 7:05pm:

It looks like a Catnic type lintel to me. You wouldn't use a steel I beam or concrete lintel in this position.

Try telling my builder that !

You do sometimes see old buildings with concrete lintels over windows I take it you are going for the rustic look!

Realise what's gone on with the op, looks like they have used a catnic designed for a cavity wall on a solid wall so it's too deep and sticks out proud of the brick face.

Title: Re: Steel lintel above window sticks out
Post by stuart45 on Dec 18^th, 2017, 1:23pm

They must have cut the backs of the bricks off if they used a catnic cavity lintel, which seems a real bodge. The leading edge of the lintel looks it's bent along it's length.