Do I need a lintel?

[kevinsmbuk]

I want to have a new window fitted, a smaller one in place of this larger window.

The window company is asking if I need a lintel? Any ideas?

 

[crank39]

Smaller in height or width?

I'd imagine there is already a lintel in place being a newish build extension so no you won't need one, I'd be more concerned about the asthetics on the mortar colour match, brick match and tying them into the existing will look

 

[kevinsmbuk]

Smaller in height or width?

I'd imagine there is already a lintel in place being a newish build extension so no you won't need one, I'd be more concerned about the asthetics on the mortar colour match, brick match and tying them into the existing will look

The extension was built in the 1980's I believe, ahh with that, I should have mentioned it's probably going to get rendered so it shouldnt matter too much. Just out of curiousity how can you tell just by looking it will have a lintel, is it because they would have been the regs at the time?

 

[crank39]

You could chop out the mortar circled and if it has a catnic lintel you should see it about an inch back from the face, alternatively you could peel the top trim(arrowed) away which could also expose the edge of a catnic, if you don't see a steel catnic its possible that the only lintel is a concrete type only on the inner skin but then i'd expect to see some deflection in those 2 or 3 unsupported courses of bricks above the window but they look pretty straight and no cracked mortar

 

[kevinsmbuk]

You could chop out the mortar circled and if it has a catnic lintel you should see it about an inch back from the face, alternatively you could peel the top trim(arrowed) away which could also expose the edge of a catnic, if you don't see a steel catnic its possible that the only lintel is a concrete type only on the inner skin but then i'd expect to see some deflection in those 2 or 3 unsupported courses of bricks above the window but they look pretty straight and no cracked mortar

View attachment 228299

Thanks very much for that, peeled back the plastic and it appears there is a thin metal lintel which I assume is a catnic lintel.