- Joined
- 25 Feb 2026
- Messages
- 5
- Reaction score
- 0
- Country
Hi everyone,
I’ve got a question about a lintel over a kitchen window in a cavity wall. I’m planning to fit new windows in the kitchen soon and then proceed with Hardwall plastering, so I want to sort the structure properly before doing any finishing. In the rest of the house, the lintel arrangement was:
-a massive in-situ concrete lintel on the outer leaf
-a timber lintel supporting the inner leaf
-nothing (cavity tray) in between, just a cavity)
I have not changed those lintels elsewhere because both the inner and outer lintels were very solid and the brickwork above was in good condition.
In the kitchen, I have two windows:
-approx. 1100 mm wide
-approx. 500 mm wide (this one used to be a bathroom window)
The kitchen lintel construction looks different from the rest of the house. On the inside, it also has a timber lintel. On the outside, it looks like there is a single brick course over the window (not forming an arch) and then a small triangular section of brickwork above it. My assumption is that there is a piece of steel built into that area supporting the brick course above (rather than a visible concrete lintel like elsewhere in the house).
On the larger window (1100 mm), I have just removed the old plaster internally and found that the timber lintel is loose enough that it looks like it could be removed by hand. There're also some signes of movement/subsidence (probably as old as the house itself). The timber itself is actually in good condition (not rotten and not visibly bent).
At this point, I believe I need to replace the lintel arrangement on this window. Is the proper cavity wall lintell supporting both inner and outer leaf the only option?
I don't seem to be able to get my head around the fact that other openings have differetn arrangement (without th cavity tray) and are just fine. Any advice would be appreciated.
I’ve got a question about a lintel over a kitchen window in a cavity wall. I’m planning to fit new windows in the kitchen soon and then proceed with Hardwall plastering, so I want to sort the structure properly before doing any finishing. In the rest of the house, the lintel arrangement was:
-a massive in-situ concrete lintel on the outer leaf
-a timber lintel supporting the inner leaf
-nothing (cavity tray) in between, just a cavity)
I have not changed those lintels elsewhere because both the inner and outer lintels were very solid and the brickwork above was in good condition.
In the kitchen, I have two windows:
-approx. 1100 mm wide
-approx. 500 mm wide (this one used to be a bathroom window)
The kitchen lintel construction looks different from the rest of the house. On the inside, it also has a timber lintel. On the outside, it looks like there is a single brick course over the window (not forming an arch) and then a small triangular section of brickwork above it. My assumption is that there is a piece of steel built into that area supporting the brick course above (rather than a visible concrete lintel like elsewhere in the house).
On the larger window (1100 mm), I have just removed the old plaster internally and found that the timber lintel is loose enough that it looks like it could be removed by hand. There're also some signes of movement/subsidence (probably as old as the house itself). The timber itself is actually in good condition (not rotten and not visibly bent).
At this point, I believe I need to replace the lintel arrangement on this window. Is the proper cavity wall lintell supporting both inner and outer leaf the only option?
I don't seem to be able to get my head around the fact that other openings have differetn arrangement (without th cavity tray) and are just fine. Any advice would be appreciated.
And sure I'm won't forget about the drainage in the outer lintel. Just like guys on this video: 
