Side Window Lintel Cracked is it an issue?

Hi,

I would appreciate any advise on the below:

I have noticed cracking (seems all the way through) on an upstairs side window lintel.

I am not sure how long the cracking has been there as I have only noticed it recently. The house was purchased in 2019 and not picked up in survey but it may have been missed.

The house was built in 1969.

Is this an imminent failure issue?

Is it safe to be left or will it need to be fixed?

What would the options to repair/replace be?

Any idea of costs based on below access difficulty?

There is a single storey flat roof extension below the window which backs on to a neighbour's garden so access is difficult.

Any advise greatly appreciated,

Thanks,

B

 

It's probably a boot lintel, water has penetrated the concrete and the rebar within the lintel has rusted and expanded. They can also suffer from rotation, often leaning out slightly. It will no doubt have a bitumen cavity tray that's perished.

Replace it with a 6x4 concrete lintel on the inner leaf and a 3x4 spanlite on the outer leaf. Fit a new cavity tray.

Two men, one day to replace would be about £300 to £400 labour, plus the cost of the lintels, mortar, slate for packing lintels, length of DPC to make a cavity tray, disposing of rubbish and scaffolding.

 

Thanks Bonni, much appreciated.

Is there structural risk to it which would be dangerous?

Is it a repair that's needed immenently or could it wait a year or two until other build work is commissioned?

Thanks Again,

B

 

I've also notice cracking at the top of both sides of the window on the inside. (pics attached)

Is this an immediate concern with regards failure and risk of the bricks above falling or can it be left for future building work planned for a year or twos time?

Thanks Again,

B

 

The house won't collapse but will need remedied at some point. My brothers boot lintel sagged, I installed some cavity trays. A few years later, we built an extension and half of the widow was getting bricked up. I quickly propped it because the outerleaf part fell off!! Then we bricked it up and packed it with slate because it was now an internal wall.

Many housing estates have boot lintels and the council have been replacing them. Brickwork drops in a triangular fashion so that's the most number of bricks that would fall.