Soldier Course - Lintel alignment?

dishman · 17 Nov 2017

What are the options for inserting a lintel where the soldier course does not line up with the standard brickwork?

In this instance the lintel would line up nearly halfway on standard brickwork. Out of line with the mortar bed.

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Doggit · 18 Nov 2017

Have a chat with these guys. Unless you use a normal lintel, and then put a brick slip where the lintels set.

dishman · 18 Nov 2017

Thanks for the reply, I updated my other post but was not sure if it was more appropriate in this section now.

https://www.diynot.com/diy/threads/replacing-linels-cost-resonable-finally-got-quotes.489592/

I found a upvc company who seemed to spec a proper lintel and seemingly do things properly.

The only question was concerning how they deal with this.

A builder I spoke to earlier mentioned cutting the back of the brick off and basically using the brick as a fascia or something. I may be explaining it wrong.That is what I understood.

Is this what you mean by a brick slip?

The current upvc company mentioned making the height of the window slightly lower, to light up with the joint. Surely this would mean the soldier course would need a thicker mortar joints to make up the gap?

Are there any other ways of doing it? Which is preferable?

Doggit · 18 Nov 2017

A brick slip is just the face of a brick, maybe a centimetre thick, so you'd need to cut the lintel back by this amount first; the builders thinking along the same lines as me.

If you go with the upvc company, they'll put in a window that's half a brick higher with a lintel, and then they'll turn the soldier course bricks on their side, and just brick up 2 extra courses. If you're not bothered about a soldier course, then that'd be okay.

Another option would be to take the solider course out, insert a lintel in the next mortar course above the window, and then use a piece of Upvc moulding to cover the gap (with expanding foam to fill the cavity behind), then put in the bricks back in.

dishman · 18 Nov 2017

Interesting, the upvc guy said the soldier course could be kept - so I'm not sure how they are planning to do it.

He said something about making the frame slightly smaller to line up.

I'll have to ask more details once the quote comes in. I'm just hoping it is not stupidly expensive.

Does cutting a small section of the lintel for the slip compromise it in any way? Or is a freshly cut edge susceptible to rust?

Doggit · 18 Nov 2017

It may well be the lintel would set far enough in that it wouldn't need cutting back, but it shouldn't compromise it, and it can pe painted with red oxide or hammerite to stop it rusting.

If the window fitters are putting in a new window, they'll adjust the size of it so that the soldier course can be kept, but I'm not sure how they'd do it. If they make the window smaller, then they've got to adjust or line up the soldier course somehow, but as it's only about an inch difference, I wonder if they're going to use a thick mortar bed above and below it?

dishman · 18 Nov 2017

Doggit said:
but as it's only about an inch difference, I wonder if they're going to use a thick mortar bed above and below it?

That was my guess. I shall enquire.

Which do you think is the most appropriate solution? Or should it not matter, except maybe a unsightly thick mortar bed above and below.

I would also assume with the brick slip option, they would have to pack under the lintel behind the brick slip as there would be a gap to the brick underneath.

Hopefully this company are on the ball , but also give a reasonable quote. So far they have given me the correct answers I was looking for without me prompting for them or asking them to so it a specific way.

Doggit · 18 Nov 2017

Unfortunately, I'm not on site, and you may not know the best solution until you take out the brick where the lintel will sit, and see what the depth is. Yes, they'd pack up underneath the lintel, and then put the brick slip on the front to cover it up. It might take a bit of fancy cutting to get it as neat as possible in the reveal, but it shouldn't be impossible.

You might find it far better to be prepared for a difficult discussion so that you know exactly how they intend to do it. The last thing you want, is to "think" they are going to do it one way, only to find that's not what you get.

dishman · 19 Nov 2017

Yeh - Once I get the quote - I intend to clarify how they intend to do it -

Quotes so far

Company 1 : £4169 (windows) & £700 for just one or maybe two angle irons as they deemed the others as nor requiring them.

Company 2: £5271 (windows) & £1050 for angle irons to all windows

Company 3: £4066 (windows) - questions about angle irons were not really responded to. Probably similar to first quote and it only pertained to the French windows.

Builders Quotes to install lintels came in at around the 2k mark.

JenniferMichaels · 20 Nov 2017

Do consult a professional for installing the window and take an estimated quote from them.

dishman · 20 Nov 2017

JenniferMichaels said:
Do consult a professional for installing the window and take an estimated quote from them.

ermm......thank you.....I ...will

siwriderby · 22 Nov 2017

Is it just the external that needs a lintel?
One option we would offer is a brick feature lintel. Make a 2c high channel with brick slips stuck to the front and under hanging the lintel so steel can’t be seen. Lead time though heads into 6-8 weeks as we would collect bricks from site to match the existing property. Alternatively, an angle could be used but window height would need lowering and mortar beds made larger to suit due to the brick type/size.

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Soldier Course - Lintel alignment?

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