Cracked Concrete Lintels

[fatboybryce]

Hi,

I have recently moved into a 1920s sandstone building with concrete lintels reinforced by steel rods. Most of these lintels are damaged with lateral cracks, and 2 are damaged to the extent that the steel bars are exposed. There are no vertical cracks present so I am hopeful that the lintels are repairable. I think that a suitable epoxy resin might exist for filling the cracks but I am unsure, and I am also uncertain how to repair the lintels in which the rods are exposed.

I have a stonemason coming to inspect them on Friday, but from the phone conversation we had I think he is only interested in replacing them. I appreciate any repairs are only going to be temporary but I would rather not have to replace them if possible. My property is ex-council and the surrounding houses have all had lintel repairs over the years provided by the council so it is clear that they are repairable. I contacted the local council to try to find out who fixed them, but they were fixed by their own workmen who are not privately contractable.

Does anybody have any experience/knowledge/advice for me? Any guidance will be greatly appreciated.

I have uploaded photos to the following album: //www.diynot.com/network/fatboybryce/albums/6978

 

[^woody^]

Repair will require removal of the cover concrete and treatment and sealing of the bars. Quite specialist to be done properly - but may be less disruptive than replacement. If not properly done the repair wont last very long

It also depends if the cause is just rust or if its a reaction with the concrete

 

[fatboybryce]

Thanks for the advice, any idea how I should go about finding a specialist?

 

[^woody^]

Perhaps googling along the lines of " specialist concrete repairs "?

You tend to find that a civil engineering contractor does more of this type of work than a building contractor