No Lintel under existing opening

[Rich123]

Hi, well we are finishing the new extension and the old external wall opening doesn’t have a lintel as far as we can tell
The opening is 2400 wide and is formed on the outside wall, the old outside, with an arch.

under the arch is a grp former which we have removed , but the builder tells me that it was quite normal to build these with no lintel.

I called my structural engineer and he told me it would have been built with a lintel , maybe over the top, but we can’t see it and drilling through the arch 

masonary upwards doesn’t hit anything. The building is 1987 and was built by a very good building company to a high standard , so I can only assume the method was correct.

 There is a plate above the opening in the attached photo installed as part of the extension to take the additional roof ridge steel load.

My question is 

1. Is this something that anyone else has experience with and could there be a lintel in another position.

 

 

Edited January 6, 2021 by Rich123
Photo description added

[markc]

An proper arch doesnt need a lintel, however although its hard to tell from the photo, this looks like a fairly low arch and therefore unlikely to be truly self supporting and structural.

A better pic from further away would be useful.

[joe90]

All my windows in my new build have arches and no lintels in the outside brick skin. It all depends on the wall either side being big enough to take any load. Take a better pic and post.

[Rich123]

Thanks Joe , sorry the pic isn’t great as we have started cladding the opening.

Im sure windows can be with no lintel depending on the width but these are wide openings.

however at least it seems this is a method used so thanks for that, attached is another photo

[PeterW]

I’d be more concerned the corner posts are sat on wooden wedges and appear not to be bolted to the floor correctly ..! Have they had grout poured under them now ..??

[joe90]

Better pic ? I don’t think that arch is a problem as the pillars each side are substantial. The only brickwork the arch supports is a triangle of bricks above it at 45’ and I guess that does not reach the bedroom window above. It’s amazing how low an arch can be and still self supporting, just check there is no cracks in the joints which will indicate movement.Here is a pic of one of mine .

[Rich123]

Thanks , ok I’ll see how we get on , I’m sure that it’s fine.

Peter , yes the steels are all grouted in with the correct grout to the pad stones .

this was just after we had levelled the steels , fixed down with chem anchors. Well spotted thanks .

 

Rich

[George]

There is probably bed joint reinforcement above the arch, forms a type of masonry beam. Impossible to tell without construction drawings or some fancy metal detector. 

[Dave Jones]

On 06/01/2021 at 08:54, joe90 said:

Better pic ? I don’t think that arch is a problem as the pillars each side are substantial. The only brickwork the arch supports is a triangle of bricks above it at 45’ and I guess that does not reach the bedroom window above. It’s amazing how low an arch can be and still self supporting, just check there is no cracks in the joints which will indicate movement.Here is a pic of one of mine .

 

 

whilst not a fan of soldier cills thats some lovely brickwork, nice to see other people use modus flush sash profile windows. they look the dogs.

[joe90]

38 minutes ago, George said:

There is probably bed joint reinforcement above the arch,

Nothing in mine, purely self supporting.

[DragsterDriver]

On 14/01/2021 at 19:40, Dave Jones said:

 

 

whilst not a fan of soldier cills thats some lovely brickwork, nice to see other people use modus flush sash profile windows. they look the dogs.

the modus get a good rating- I’m currently looking into them (no pun intended).