Lintel required on outside wall skin?

[Camshaft]

Hi all,

I'm just in the process of replacing some patio doors on a 1950's house. I'm unsure as to whether or not the outside course of bricks require a lintel installing after removal of old door frame. There is already a concrete lintel in place on the inside skin, which appears to span the depth of the cavity and meet the outside course of bricks.

Also, the new replacement doors will be smaller in height - would it be OK to construct a wooden frame below the lintel which the doors will hang from to bridge the gap?

Here are a few pics:

Any input would be appreciated.

 

[kazuya]

when it was built a wooden frame would have been there with the brick on edge on top, ideally a lintel should have been put in when it changed to plastic but saying that the brickwork looks in good condition, although that might change when you take out the plastic frame, personally if the new frames lower anyway id fit an L shape lintel to front, its done then and you can forget about it

 

[Camshaft]

Thanks for that.

There was a wooden frame beneath the metal frame - however, it didn't seem very supportive. The lintel looks like it's been set in situ as it appears to have bonded to the outside skin, so all was well and there's now a new frame in place.