advice required from a builder: moving a lintel

[wilbo]

put it this way - the lintel is about 4-5mm thick and spans the opening. I reckon it to be 1 brick deep.

there is no way that it is supporting the whole chimney - there must be another lintel further up the brick stack.


I am seriously tempted to just move it up a few courses.

[Fiona]

Originally Posted by wilbo

I think I will just move it up a few courses.

I don't suppose you have your pink pass yet

[wilbo]

I'm actually wondering whether to get a couple of acros and strongboys in to support it while I make the alterations..

[dry suit diver]

Originally Posted by wilbo

I'm actually wondering whether to get a couple of acros and strongboys in to support it while I make the alterations..

and you hadn't got these already?


you are definitley looking at hacking of plaster a good few feet further up for investigation works now

[Gary K]

why dont you ask Mrs Wilbo, she apparently wears the trousers in your house

[Steve Summers]

Originally Posted by wilbo

I'm actually wondering whether to get a couple of acros and strongboys in to support it while I make the alterations..

I took the plaster off the chimney breast repointed it and varnished the brickwork, it made a nice feature even better.

On the plus side you will see where the lintel is as well.

Safe diving
Steve

[Mark Chase]

Originally Posted by wilbo

put it this way - the lintel is about 4-5mm thick and spans the opening. I reckon it to be 1 brick deep.

there is no way that it is supporting the whole chimney - there must be another lintel further up the brick stack.


I am seriously tempted to just move it up a few courses.

You can do one of the folowing:

Needle the bricks:

Punch a hole through the stack and put a support through ( a 4X6 will do it)
then support both sides with acro's or wedged props


Bodge it with a length of Angle iron:

Rake out a mortor joint across a line above where you want to work and hammer in a length of angle iron


If your house falls down using either sugestion I was obviously talking bollocks so more fool you

[buchhawk]

I take it that the lintle is spaning no more that about 2 feet, the worst that can happen is half a dozen bricks falling.
If you were knocking a opening 10ft in a wall, you would only put a needle every 3 ft.
So bang away (with a bit of care), and put the metal back.
Ken

[wilbo]

ah.. excellent some helpful replies.. thank you.

this is what I was hoping to do.. providing the rest of the stack is supported on the strongboys, then I thought putting a new steel lintel in two courses up, then removing the old steel lintel and the bottom 2 courses should be ok..

here is a hurried version taken off marks diagram earlier (complete with crazy paving effect brickwork )



Edit: updated..

[PeeBee]

Originally Posted by buchhawk

I take it that the lintle is spaning no more that about 2 feet, the worst that can happen is half a dozen bricks falling.
If you were knocking a opening 10ft in a wall, you would only put a needle every 3 ft.
So bang away (with a bit of care), and put the metal back.
Ken

Hmm, if there is a lintel in there, it's there for a reason and not just to support a couple of courses of bricks. Chasey's suggestion and diagram is the right way to go.

good luck