Hi,
So a builder has begun fitting a T Lintel to an existing window opening at the end wall of Victorian terrace extension in order to instal some double doors. There are a number of things I'm concerned with though as follows (see images attached):
1. No supports have been used anywhere. I would have thought 2 to 3 acrow props supporting the joists inside and 2 to 3 acrow props with strong boys to support the brickwork from the outside. The builder said he was happy with the support the beam inside offered (that the joists sit on). But that means that one beam is supporting the entire solid wall and floor.
2. The packing between the lintel / padstone and lintel / beam is a mixture of slate and wet (certainly not dry) mortar. I thought a dry mix should be used and it should be packed in without the use of slate as all this will do is impede getting the mortar in nice and tight. Some of the slate packing is also loose with little or no mortar in and around it.
3. The lintel has been set too high (about 100mm). The builder has said once the door is in place bricks can be used to fill the gap. Surely you should just sit the lintel at the correct height and how would the door frame be able to support two courses of bricks unless some kind of plate spanning both courses was used?
4. The lintel is a a CN51C (T style) however in the plans a CN81C (box style with lip for outer course of brickwork to sit on) has been specified. This seems like a big oversight!
Adding all of these points up I'm a little concerned as to the quality of work especially given the builder will then be doing the side return extension which involves a lot more structural work.
Any views would be very much appreciated!
Thanks
So a builder has begun fitting a T Lintel to an existing window opening at the end wall of Victorian terrace extension in order to instal some double doors. There are a number of things I'm concerned with though as follows (see images attached):
1. No supports have been used anywhere. I would have thought 2 to 3 acrow props supporting the joists inside and 2 to 3 acrow props with strong boys to support the brickwork from the outside. The builder said he was happy with the support the beam inside offered (that the joists sit on). But that means that one beam is supporting the entire solid wall and floor.
2. The packing between the lintel / padstone and lintel / beam is a mixture of slate and wet (certainly not dry) mortar. I thought a dry mix should be used and it should be packed in without the use of slate as all this will do is impede getting the mortar in nice and tight. Some of the slate packing is also loose with little or no mortar in and around it.
3. The lintel has been set too high (about 100mm). The builder has said once the door is in place bricks can be used to fill the gap. Surely you should just sit the lintel at the correct height and how would the door frame be able to support two courses of bricks unless some kind of plate spanning both courses was used?
4. The lintel is a a CN51C (T style) however in the plans a CN81C (box style with lip for outer course of brickwork to sit on) has been specified. This seems like a big oversight!
Adding all of these points up I'm a little concerned as to the quality of work especially given the builder will then be doing the side return extension which involves a lot more structural work.
Any views would be very much appreciated!
Thanks