Possible lintel failure

[jcbl]

Hi - I would gratefully value some urgent advice.

Two months ago a large national glazing company replaced a very battered timber door in our house, with a uPVC one. The photo below shows the house as of this morning. Despite the poor quality,

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• jcbl
• 24 Apr 2013
• 1

I'm sure my cause for concern is obvious - there was no cracking or sagging in the brickwork before the work was done.

Our original survey when buying the house indicated there was likely to be a timber lintel behind the brick arch, and I presume said national company haven't been stupid enough to remove this. On this basis -

- does this look like lintel failure caused by the previous door frame bearing some weight of the brickwork?
- can it just be propped and repointed and would this be within the scope of a reasonable DIY effort?
- if not, what is likely to be the most robust repair method - does the lintel need to be rebuilt or could helical wall ties be used?

Many thanks

 

[jeds]

It's not going to look the same as before just by repairing it. Having said that it won't look exactly the same if rebuilt - but at least it will look straight and sound to a potential buyer. What does the large national glazing company say about it?

 

[^woody^]

Those bricks will have been built off the old timber frame, and the timber lintel will be on the back of the wall only.

It needs a new steel lintel, at least on the front or a replacement for the rear one too.

Helical bars won't help

 

[jcbl]

Thank you - could I reasonably have expected said large company to flag this when taking our money?

 

[^woody^]

Yes.

 

[tony1851]

I can't see anything wrong with it; do I need my eyes testing or what?

 

[jcbl]

It's not clear, but the fourth soldier brick from left has dropped about 1cm, and the first course above it has a brick that is dropping away from the mortar bed above

 

[tony1851]

Nope; must book that appointment at Specsavers!

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Come on tony didn't they have glasses in 1851?

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• freddiemercurystwin
• 24 Apr 2013
• 1

 

[tony1851]

Ah, yes, thanks; put it on 400% magnifier. I'll cancel the appointment.

 

[jcbl]

I think the stupid but obvious question keeping me awake the last couple of nights is 'is the house about to fall down'?

 

[^woody^]

You've never played Jenga then?

 

[jcbl]

Not with a house, no. Acrow props and use the back door, then?

 

[tony1851]

'is the house about to fall down'?

No. It's quite likely the slipped brick will stay like that for the rest of time.
If the arch as a whole was pulled out completely, only a very small triangle of brickwork immediately above the door would come loose.

 

[pinenot]

To visually check if there is indeed any movement movement or not using a strait edge on the lintel, draw a thin line (felt tip, dark pencil) ensuring you get the joints clearly marked. Closely inspect this daily, if lines never move away from each other, you have had some settlement (not unusual) which should relieve your worry. If there is movement then come back and we can help.

Oh! can you check the inside for the presence of a lintel?...pinenot