As an integral structural element of any building, whether industrial, commercial or residential, lintels act as a bridge between two columns that are vertically placed (typically doors and windows), ensuring that the structure’s weight can be distributed accordingly. They are most often made from concrete or steel.
Over time, even those lintels that have been professionally installed can suffer from wear and tear, and when this happens, depending on the extent of the damage, they may need to be replaced before jeopardizing the entire structural integrity of the building.
If you suspect that your lintels may need replacing, or would like to know what signs to look for in a damaged lintel, here is a short guide:
Common signs a lintel needs to be replaced
When working properly and undamaged, most building owners wouldn’t even know the lintels are there, but when they start to disintegrate or degrade, you may seem some, or all of the following signs:
- Bricks jutting out
Over the passing of time, weak and damaged lintels can make the bricks surrounding them falter or move out of place slightly, and when you notice this happening, you must seek professional help immediately. If you don’t respond swiftly to this problem, the building could suffer further, more serious damage, and even go on to present itself as a deadly threat to the safety of anyone inside it.
- Cracks in the mortar line
If you begin to notice cracks appearing in the topmost corner of your doors or windows, this is a sure sign that something is amiss with the lintels and you should ask a masonry contractor to assess the problem for you. Should you notice cracks appearing along the bricks themselves, this should also give you cause to take action. Any damage to lintels could compromise the brickwork of a building, and therefore, its entire structural integrity.
- Cracks around windows
As touched upon above, cracks around any of the building’s windows could be an indicator that the lintel needs immediate attention, and if the briockwork surrounding the window is deteriorating, this is also a strong indicator of lintel failure. Remember that the weather and humidity can both put additional strain on a lintel, and in some instances, can cause it to warp and bend.
While lintels can last for many years without causing any problems to a structure, prolonged periods of rain and damp weather, may cause them to degrade sooner than they might otherwise.
How can you prevent your lintels from failing?
Ultimately, if you live in an older building, having the old lintels replaced offers a number of significant advantages, and it typically pays to have this done sooner rather than later, in order to avoid the costlier expense of damage being caused to your home.
If you suspect that your lintels may be failing, or are worried about the potential of them doing so in the future due to the age of the building, schedule an assessment with a professional masonry contractor, who can guide you in terms of the process and advise whether lintel replacement is the most appropriate course of action at this stage.
Fortunately, having your lintels replaced nowadays is a quick, affordable and non-disruptive way to protect your home and maintain its structural integrity, so if your lintels have begun to fail, there’s no reason to panic as the problem can be fixed simply and quickly.