Cracks in mortar above patio door

[cooa99]

We have cracks in the mortar on part of the brick above the patio/French doors. I cant remember for how long but I think it has been there for years, just kept forgetting to do something about it.

Please can you give me pointers on what needs to be done to fix the issue. I wanted to have an idea before calling someone to fix it.
Thanks

 

[stuart45]

You need to get a lintel installed.

 

[Ivor Windybottom]

It's really hard to tell. It may just be shrinkage that's cracked at a weak point, or it may be a missing or inadequate lintel.

How old is the building, is the opening original or was it added? If the opening was original then did it previously have a wooden frame?

Get a magnet, check whether it sticks to the underside of the reveal (opening) on the inside. It probably won't stick under the cavity, as the lintel will probably look like this...

 

[Ivor Windybottom]

Please get a closer photo of the crack, square-onto it rather than at an angle looking upwards. You'll need a ladder or something to stand on. It looks like the horizontal gap is widest, and the vertical lines are just cracks rather than gaps, in which case it's moved downwards to the left of it, indicating a lintel issue. But it's impossible to tell from the oblique photo.

 

[cooa99]

Please get a closer photo of the crack, square-onto it rather than at an angle looking upwards. You'll need a ladder or something to stand on. It looks like the horizontal gap is widest, and the vertical lines are just cracks rather than gaps, in which case it's moved downwards to the left of it, indicating a lintel issue. But it's impossible to tell from the oblique photo.

Here is a closer picture

 

[cooa99]

It's really hard to tell. It may just be shrinkage that's cracked at a weak point, or it may be a missing or inadequate lintel.

How old is the building, is the opening original or was it added? If the opening was original then did it previously have a wooden frame?

Get a magnet, check whether it sticks to the underside of the reveal (opening) on the inside. It probably won't stick under the cavity, as the lintel will probably look like this...

There is a metal lintel in picture, sticks to magnet. Opening is original. The house was built very late 90's or year 2000. It had sliding doors when we purchased in 2003. I cant remember if the frames were metal or wood but the rest of the house had wooden double glazing. We changed to upvc French doors probably around 2007. There is a metal lintel.

 

[stevie888]

I'm wondering if the opening was widened at some point and a new lintel added but not well so we now see a bit of movement in the bric.k. Put a staight edge or stringline under the lintel to see if there's any deflection there.

 

[cooa99]

I'm wondering if the opening was widened at some point and a new lintel added but not well so we now see a bit of movement in the bric.k. Put a staight edge or stringline under the lintel to see if there's any deflection there.

I have one of those laser level somewhere so will look to check. The widening has not been altered. There are 8 properties on the close built at same time. I have been in 5 of them with exactly the same widening. Unfortunately 4 have built conservatories (and covered) afterwards so cant check if they have the same issue

 

[noseall]

There is a metal lintel in picture, sticks to magnet. Opening is original. The house was built very late 90's or year 2000. It had sliding doors when we purchased in 2003. I cant remember if the frames were metal or wood but the rest of the house had wooden double glazing. We changed to upvc French doors probably around 2007. There is a metal lintel.

Looks to me like a lintel has been (retro?) fitted?

 

[cooa99]

I'm wondering if the opening was widened at some point and a new lintel added but not well so we now see a bit of movement in the bric.k. Put a staight edge or stringline under the lintel to see if there's any deflection there.

Too bright outside for the laser line so used a string stuck on both sides where it enters the brickwork and it looks perfectly straight. The lintel is pretty much behind the string without deflection when I climb to view at eye level

 

[cooa99]

Looks to me like a lintel has been (retro?) fitted?

Wont there be a visible damage to the brick work or evidence of new mortar with a diffirent color to the rest? I know there is certainly some sort of lintel on the inside because a cordless hammer drill could not drill through when I was putting up vertical rail blind so just used plasterboard fixings in the end

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

The lintel is pretty much behind the string without deflection when I climb to view at eye level

That wider view, seems to suggest the lintel has dropped a little on the right, rather than deformed due to load, in the middle.

 

[Ivor Windybottom]

Here is a closer picture

There's definitely downward movement to the left of the line.

 

[noseall]

Wont there be a visible damage to the brick work or evidence of new mortar with a diffirent color to the rest? I know there is certainly some sort of lintel on the inside because a cordless hammer drill could not drill through when I was putting up vertical rail blind so just used plasterboard fixings in the end

The mortar on the two courses directly above the doors looks greyer than the buff mortar above them. As said it looks like a rebuild of the jambs (partial) and the two courses above the doors.

 

[Ivor Windybottom]

The mortar on the two courses directly above the doors looks greyer than the buff mortar above them. As said it looks like a rebuild of the jambs (partial) and the two courses above the doors.

If so then the brickwork may have dropped just after or even during this work and is in fact supported.

Perhaps just re-point and see what happens. Hopefully nothing further.