No lintel above door - load bearing ?

[Cabbyfan]

Hi everyone,

Came across this humdinger today ! Been generally updating a semi-detached bungalow I bought last year. It had a loft conversion done in the 70s (not very well), part of this job meant moving the door from the hallway into the lounge to accmodate the stairs.

In the last few days I have ripped out all the old timber & plasterboard that was done to block up the old doorway and bricked it up properly and I am about to replaster it all.

During this I also looked at all the plaster work around the new door and it is so far I have hacked it all out so I can replace it properly so I can have painted walls and not wallpaper.

However here is my problem, there is no lintel above the doorway and directly above this doorway is a pile of blocks supporting a roof purlin ! Given the time its been like this its not come crashing down yet as the purlin is supported on the party wall and also on 2 other blockwork supports but I am about to do a hip to gable so this purlin will become more important.

So question - should I fit a lintel ??

Pic below & thanks for your help.

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[tony1851]

I am about to do a hip to gable so this purlin will become more important.

So question - should I fit a lintel ??

You have answered your own question!

 

[Cabbyfan]

Lol thanks Tony, good point !

The highlight of my day was not only confirming my suspicions there was no lintel but also finding the wads of paper stuffed between the door frame and the wall and plastered over like the surface of the moon as a finish when the builder installed the new door.

Between this and the lights that are wired to both a lighting circuit and the downstairs ringmain I'm amazed this property survived lol.

On a serious note, I'm assuming a concrete lintel will do the trick ?

 

[tony1851]

I'm assuming a concrete lintel will do the trick ?

A 100 x 65 lintel should be OK as long as it's well mortared in.

 

[Cabbyfan]

Cheers Tony.

 

[Cabbyfan]

Spoke to BC this morning, they said on balance best to put one in. It's in now just need to mix to set so I can plaster up.