Replacing Lintel - Padstones needed?

[Big_Jon]

Hello

I need to replace this lintel above this window as it's cracked. I was wondering do I need to install some padstones beneath the lintel first, then replace the lintel? Or is it ok and acceptable to put the new lintel on the cut down brick? (As shown in the pictures)

I was just wondering when you need padstones, and what the benefits are of using them. The lintel span is 112cm and has a good weight loading on it, second story above etc.

Any advice on padstones, when to use them, would be much appreciated.

Regards

 

[^woody^]

Not for lintels

 

[stevie888]

Padstones are used to distribute point loads from beams or columns so that the pressure applied to the masonry beneath is less than its safe capacity.

Where required they should be designed and specified by your SE along witjh the beams. A beam sitting on celcon blocks wpuld require a bigger padstone than the same beam on decent brickwork. On the KISS principle I generally adopt a single size throughout the job.