Meter box lintel?

toptec · 2 Sep 2007

I tried this in the building section but nobody could answer.....

I'm due to fit an external electrical meter box, presumably they are a standard size, ready for Western Power to drop the main power tails from above into the box.

My question is - as I will be removing the outer course of bricks will I need to insert some form of support for the course above?

Cheers

Taylortwocities · 2 Sep 2007

Its a big hole, isnt it! I have never seen any support just the box in the bricks.

toptec · 2 Sep 2007

I think its about 2 1/2 bricks wide and I am sure its made of some kind of plastic.

Western Powers supplies the box but requires the customer to fit it. I know the boxes need some heavy duty plastic placed over the rear to prevent water bridging buy am unsure as to the support... if any... is required.

Steve · 2 Sep 2007

Compared to a door or window, the hole is insignificant, and the bricks above will hold their own weight. If you look at a wall, you'll see that the interlocking bricks will support each other in a triangle shape if a hole were made a few bricks wide. The bricks in the triangle rely on the mortar being strong enough to hold them up. This should be ok.

megawatt · 2 Sep 2007

If you're worried about this you would have a baby if you saw the size of the hole needed for the old Worcester Highflow 3.5 BF's and this went through both inner and outer courses

Never seen a lintel yet.

toptec · 2 Sep 2007

Thanks Guys - My mind is more at rest.

And I can confidently inform my Father-in-Law that his idea of using angle iron is a bit ancient!

theshogun · 2 Sep 2007

I would advise you to install a lintel. All external boxes i have come across have a lintel above but these are generaly installed buy the builders.

bernardgreen · 3 Sep 2007

Depends on the quality of the mortar and how much it suffers when the hole is cut ( Vibration etc loosening bricks that are not intended to be removed ).

If the bricks above do become loose then a lintel would (should ) prevent further loosening over the years.

Just filling the gap above the box with mortar should be enough for most installs.

jj4091 · 3 Sep 2007

Get yourself a spanlite lintel & then you will be sure, they are only the same depth as a brick & only need to overlap by half a brick each side.

toptec · 3 Sep 2007

Spanlite Lintel ?

Pretty ugly looking thing... and it would show wouldn't it?

jj4091 · 3 Sep 2007

You pays your money & takes your choice! Ever heard of masonary paint?

toptec · 3 Sep 2007

The day I use masonary paint to paint over a lintel is the day my wife calls in the men in white coats!

jj4091 · 4 Sep 2007

Suit yourself, just trying to help.

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Meter box lintel?

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