Help,
I have just visited my mums 1930's house and tried to open her large horrible aluminium patio sliding doors - they seem really stiff to slide. Once outside I could see that the original pebble dash above the door has a crack and appear to be 'blown' from the brickwork. I checked upstairs bedroom above the patio door and (after peeling away wallpaper) could see cracked plaster and a 3/4 inch gap between bottom of skirting board to floorboard.
I think this points to a failed lintel?
I have stripped back a small amount of plaster from the inside above the patio door and it appears to be a wooden lintel. The walls are solid (no cavity). Having checked with neighbours, I can see that the opening has obviously been widened (compared to original) - presumably to fit these ghastly patio doors.
My questions are:
1) I guess it would not be covered by any kind of building insurance?
2) I'm ready willing and able to strip walls/pebble dash and do all the redeocrating. All I think I need is a builder to do the easy(!) bit of taking out the patio doors, sizing and correctly installing the lintel, refitting doors, plastering etc. How big a job is this for a builder (I'll fit the bill as mums on low wages) . Am I talking big bucks?
3) Cosmetically how good a match can most builders get pebbledash to match existing?
Thanks WG
I have just visited my mums 1930's house and tried to open her large horrible aluminium patio sliding doors - they seem really stiff to slide. Once outside I could see that the original pebble dash above the door has a crack and appear to be 'blown' from the brickwork. I checked upstairs bedroom above the patio door and (after peeling away wallpaper) could see cracked plaster and a 3/4 inch gap between bottom of skirting board to floorboard.
I think this points to a failed lintel?
I have stripped back a small amount of plaster from the inside above the patio door and it appears to be a wooden lintel. The walls are solid (no cavity). Having checked with neighbours, I can see that the opening has obviously been widened (compared to original) - presumably to fit these ghastly patio doors.
My questions are:
1) I guess it would not be covered by any kind of building insurance?
2) I'm ready willing and able to strip walls/pebble dash and do all the redeocrating. All I think I need is a builder to do the easy(!) bit of taking out the patio doors, sizing and correctly installing the lintel, refitting doors, plastering etc. How big a job is this for a builder (I'll fit the bill as mums on low wages) . Am I talking big bucks?
3) Cosmetically how good a match can most builders get pebbledash to match existing?
Thanks WG