Rusty lintel

[Moonshine]

I have been doing some renovation on the external render of my 1930's house and the external wall lintel over the patio door is rusty and flacky in places.

 

There are two steel I beam lintals that aren't connected, the inner one is fine and it's just the outer one which is rusty.

 

Is this level of rust o.k or should it be replaced before it's rendered over? Anything I should paint on to limit future rust?

[LA3222]

31 minutes ago, Moonshine said:

I have been doing some renovation on the external render of my 1930's house and the external wall lintel over the patio door is rusty and flacky in places.

 

There are two steel I beam lintals that aren't connected, the inner one is fine and it's just the outer one which is rusty.

 

Is this level of rust o.k or should it be replaced before it's rendered over? Anything I should paint on to limit future rust?

I'm no expert so can only give you my opinion.

 

That lintel looks a right mess to me, I'd definitely look to replace it. I'd also be trying to work out how I could stop the issue repeating.

[PeterW]

That is an RSJ not a lintel - it is probably 6mm thick and isn't going anywhere soon. I would get a wire brush on a grinder and get the worst of the crud off it, then a good coat of red oxide primer and cover it up for the next 20 years

[Triassic]

9 minutes ago, PeterW said:

That is an RSJ not a lintel - it is probably 6mm thick and isn't going anywhere soon. I would get a wire brush on a grinder and get the worst of the crud off it, then a good coat of red oxide primer and cover it up for the next 20 years

+1

[Moonshine]

9 hours ago, LA3222 said:

I'd also be trying to work out how I could stop the issue repeating.

 

That is the remedial work I am doing now, as water engress was getting into the house

[Moonshine]

8 hours ago, PeterW said:

That is an RSJ not a lintel - it is probably 6mm thick and isn't going anywhere soon. I would get a wire brush on a grinder and get the worst of the crud off it, then a good coat of red oxide primer and cover it up for the next 20 years

 

Thanks, yes it is and Rsj and for some reason I was using the term I beam.

 

That is reassuring, and will have a go at the worst of it.

[Gone West]

I'd drill a 3mm diameter hole to see how thick the steel is as it's difficult to know what the other side is like.

[Moonshine]

4 minutes ago, PeterStarck said:

I'd drill a 3mm diameter hole to see how thick the steel is as it's difficult to know what the other side is like.

 

I have seen the inside from up the cavity (left below) and it's not as bad as the side, where the water has got to it.

 

[Gone West]

4 minutes ago, Moonshine said:

I have seen the inside from up the cavity (left below) and it's not as bad as the side, where the water has got to it.

Yes that doesn't look too bad at all, no flakes like on the outer side.

[Moonshine]

Came across this lintel today, yep this one definitely needs replacing, luckily it's a small window (900mm) and it's just the exterior wall leaf that is the problem