Lintel repairs (water damage)

[Mr John Williams]

Hi all - my first post!

I am trying to sell my late uncles house and a surveyor has said that the lintel above one of the windows is an old, reinforced concrete lintel and the rainwater penetration has caused the reinforcing steel bars in the lintel to rust, due to insufficient concrete cover.

He has recommended: Break off the fractured plaster/concrete, expose the rusting steel, wire brush and apply a rust inhibitor, re concrete/re plaster, and locally redecorate. - Seek to seal the area externally, to prevent rainwater penetration.

So what is rust inhibitor? I had a look online, toolstation has Rustins Rust Converter would that be appropriate? Should I then paint over the treatment with something like hammarite? They also say reconcrete I assume cement would be OK?

Any help greatly appreciated

 

[frutbunn]

Hammerite is the most overrated ****e on the market, I never use it.
If your just selling it on, just use something like Jenolite, and give it a coat or two of red oxide.
The best rust eater for in situ treatment I've used is some US made stuff Frost Auto Restoration sell, but its expensive. For loose steel parts I drop them in clear vinegar for 24 hours, less than £2 for 5 litres and no VAT either.

 

[Mr John Williams]

Thanks frutbunn. Yes the hammarite was an after thought its the rust inhibitor that I'm really concerned about getting right.

 

[frutbunn]

Thanks frutbunn. Yes the hammarite was an after thought its the rust inhibitor that I'm really concerned about getting right.

Jenolite, Hammerite Kurust which is actually OK (unlike the paint), go to your local independant motor factor, they'll be cheaper than halfords, B & Q etc, they usually stock more different sized containers as well so you don't have to buy lots of small ones!

 

[^woody^]

Who was the surveyor working for - you or the buyer? If for you it's a crap repair recommendation.

You won't ever get around all the steel, you don't know exactly how much it has expanded and weakened - can it even be treated, and trying to hack off the concrete and get a good bond afterwards is difficult. Walls get wet within and so just trying to seal the face of wall means you have to do all of the wall above too, not just the lintel.

I wonder if that same surveyor on a buyer's survey would notice a lintel repair such as he described and demand to see a certificate of work signed by a structural engineer guaranteeing the repair? And not accepting any other repair or a DIY job.

If this has happened, the lintel is at life-end and should be replaced as the most economical repair. Otherwise it could come back to haunt you at the time of the sale. or leave it and be prepared to discount the price when/if asked.

If this was the buyer's surveyor's recommendation, happy days, bodge it and scarper.

 

[Mr John Williams]

The latter

However I'm not convinced that there is a problem with the lintel. I think it's part of the plastic surround that came with the double glazing as I can see no sign of any water. With that and the the repair recommendation I will let you draw your own conclusions about the surveyor. But the hoops have to be jumped through to sell the house!

 

[^woody^]

OK

Jenolite is good and has been around for years. There are two types - blue bottle = rust converter and red bottle = rust remover. I think you'll need the blue bottle.

And you may want a proprietary resin concrete repair product for the lintel as that sticks much better than sand and cement - but it sets in about 10-15 minutes so watch out!

 

[dontbelieveawordofit]

Hi all - my first post!

I am trying to sell my late uncles house and a surveyor has said that the lintel above one of the windows is an old, reinforced concrete lintel and the rainwater penetration has caused the reinforcing steel bars in the lintel to rust, due to insufficient concrete cover.

He has recommended: Break off the fractured plaster/concrete, expose the rusting steel, wire brush and apply a rust inhibitor, re concrete/re plaster, and locally redecorate. - Seek to seal the area externally, to prevent rainwater penetration.

So what is rust inhibitor? I had a look online, toolstation has Rustins Rust Converter would that be appropriate? Should I then paint over the treatment with something like hammarite? They also say reconcrete I assume cement would be OK?

Any help greatly appreciated

complete nonsense. replace it or nothing.

 

[dontbelieveawordofit]

complete nonsense. replace it or nothing.

in fact . rust remover on a concrete lintel. it’s probably one of the dumbest building suggestions i’ve heard so far.

 

[frutbunn]

This is by far and away the best treatment gel, and I've treated plenty of rusty Land Rovers, Morris Minors, MK2 Escorts, Suzuki 4x4's, Lambrettas, Vespas
They do a thinner version which is good for pouring into petrol tanks etc.
Anything that Frost import from the US is always top notch>
https://www.frost.co.uk/eastwood-gel-rust-dissolver-946ml/

 

[Mr John Williams]

Thanks for all the replies, I will let you know haw I get on. I've called the next door neighbour who is a roofer and he is going to give me a hand. hopefully its just the plastic surround