Lintel above bifold doors

[Wbur9]

We’re currently looking at fitting 2 sets of bifold doors to the rear of our bungalow, replacing a current set of sliding doors extending the opening from 2m to 3m & swapping a 3.2 metre bay out for bifolds.

The issue is we haven’t got much space between the current doors and the wall plate, literally just a small concrete lintel which is around 100mm which the wall plate sits on.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Surely you're fitting a new lintel in the new 3m opening? Normally you order the door to suit the opening so if the new lintel needs to be a bit bigger then so be it.

 

[stevie888]

If height is really an issue then a 100x150 or 100x200 RHS used flat s an option. Whoever designs your lintels should be able to advise.

 

[Wbur9]

Surely you're fitting a new lintel in the new 3m opening? Normally you order the door to suit the opening so if the new lintel needs to be a bit bigger then so be it.

Yeah we’re fitting new lintels across both openings but are still governed by the existing wall plate, the doors were having are 1900 but can’t afford to take any height of those.

 

[robinbanks]

Are you saying that after fitting your new larger lintel, you don't have sufficient height left to get out of the door?

You'll have to rethink then, perhaps put them in a small bay and alter a section of roof to suit, or look at alternative door technologies that are more frameless if it's only a few inches you need, ditch the wall plate, use two lower profile steels side by side etc. All conversations you should be having with your structural engineer, who has seen the job, rather than strangers on the internet working from a posting that is devoid of substantive info

 

[noseall]

Yeah we’re fitting new lintels across both openings but are still governed by the existing wall plate, the doors were having are 1900 but can’t afford to take any height of those.

Do the doors open out?

Maybe you could drop the doors down a course below DPC?

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Yeah we’re fitting new lintels across both openings but are still governed by the existing wall plate, the doors were having are 1900 but can’t afford to take any height of those.

Who is specifying the new lintels? Are you or the builder plucking lintels out of the air? Is BC involved? Seems like it's time to get a practical structural engineer involved to design something with little depth as Steve touched upon. Or let me guess, the builder starts Monday?

 

[Murdochcat]

Oer. I would tread very carefully and get extremely good advice from an SE before you do anything as ANY movement in the frame of the bifolds will render them useless

 

[tony1851]

Use a steel angle directly under the wall plate.

 

[Dereekoo]

Use a steel angle directly under the wall plate.

The question is what size??

 

[Notch7]

as above: a steel angle

the rafter pitch gives more room for the angle on the inside

 

[Notch7]

The question is what size??

200 x 200 x 20 should be strong enough

 

[stevie888]

200 x 200 x 20 should be strong enough

And how does that work? The rafters will be in the way (unless it's an incredibly steep pitch!)

 

[tony1851]

If it was well-screwed to the timber to avoid twisting, I reckon a 120 x 120 angle could span 3m or so.
Its only holding part of a ceiling and half the roof up to the purlin.
{assuming its not a truss-roof).

 

[Dereekoo]

If it was well-screwed to the timber to avoid twisting, I reckon a 120 x 120 angle could span 3m or so.
Its only holding part of a ceiling and half the roof up to the purlin.
{assuming its not a truss-roof).

Interesting Tony with no roof /ceiling loads to work with is this based on passed experience or finger in the air calc