Lintel Repair: The Homeowner’s Guide
Owning a house comes with its fair share of problems. At times, the plumbing might be causing some issues, or the heating system might be down. Other times, you might need to make a few masonry fixes all over the house.
Lintels can be best described as horizontal columns that are
placed above an opening in the wall, like a door or a window. They are used to
support and hold up the structure of the wall.
Lintel repair
is something that homeowners face on a frequent basis. But do you always need
to replace the lintel or can you get it repaired by trusting a local lintel
repair contractor?
Factors that Cause Lintel Damage
Lintel
supports can be made of steel, timber, or just stone, and each one of these materials is
prone to degradation at some point.
A number of
factors can influence lintel degradation ranging from moisture from the
environment, uneven installation or even just aging of the material used in
construction.
These
factors can cause the lintel to damage at some places, thereby weakening it and
putting it at risk.
Detecting the Damages
Lintel
damage can be easily detected as it’s clearly visible. Vertical cracks that run
upward into the masonry are easy to see. These cracks can prove fatal to the
life of your masonry causing it to sag,or worse, collapse.
Take a good
look around the house to detect any other lintel damage above doors and
windows. You can call in professional lintel replacement contractors in
Boston to conduct a proper
damage inspection. The contractors can assess whether your lintel needs a small
repair or have to be entirely replaced with a new one.
Should you repair the
damage or replace the lintels? Ask the expert!
Professional lintel repair
contractors will
provide the best solution for your lintel problems. Precautionary measures include
sealing the masonry surrounding the lintel. This process prevents moisture from
seeping into the cracks and causing the lintel to rust.
Restoring
the lintel requires the removal of stone and brickwork surrounding it by
chasing it down. Once all of the deteriorated parts are removed, grout mixture
or bolt nuts are used to secure the new lintel piece in place. This process is
followed by using a filler to smoothen the masonry work.
Lintel damage
and breakage is one of those serious issues that should never be neglected.
Once you detect cracks in the lintel masonry, know that it’s time for you to
get it either repaired or completely replaced by contacting a trusted lintel
repair contractor.
Comments
Post a Comment