Concrete lintel removal

[Oceanjules]

Hi everyone,

 

I need your advice please. These windows from the picture need resizing and need catnic for lintels- as per engineer’s drawing. Now, what is the easiest way to remove these heavy lintels? Can’t we just slide the catnic where it should be and just brick up the front and leave the concrete lintel sitting on the back of catnic? Sorry, if I’m not making sense. 
 

why are these lintels not suitable for new windows? Surely these ones are stronger than catnic? thank you 

[joe90]

Depends what those concrete lintel are supporting? Roof? Floor? Whatever it is will need to be temporally supported if they are removed. I used concrete lintels in my new build (inner skin only, brick arch outer) perhaps you could post up the engineers drawing so we can see the detail better.

Edited September 25 by joe90

[Oceanjules]

6 minutes ago, joe90 said:

Depends what those concrete lintel are supporting? Roof? Floor? Whatever it is will need to be temporally supported if they are removed. I used concrete lintels in my new build (inner skin only, brick arch outer) perhaps you could post up the engineers drawing so we can see the detail better.

Thanks Joe. I have attached part of the drawings where those catnics will go.

 

 

[joe90]

Right that’s a cavity catnic with brick outer support. However the drawings don’t show “how” it’s to be done. Are you using a builder? He should know.the new catnic is the full depth of the wall so no room to leave the concrete lintel in place plus it looks like it is currently supporting both inner and outer brick/block skins.

Edited September 25 by joe90

[Gus Potter]

50 minutes ago, Oceanjules said:

I need your advice please

Hiya.

 

Happy to give you advice where I reasonably can. But I need to see all the drawings, a panoramic set of photos of the house, any adjacent houses and all your drawings and ans SE calcs you have.  Without that information can't say much more as no one else can on BH.

 

If you take the plunge you'll get loads of help from all sort of folk.. from SE's and seasoned builders with 40 plus years of exerience for example.

[Oceanjules]

8 minutes ago, joe90 said:

Right that’s a cavity catnic with brick outer support. However the drawings don’t show “how” it’s to be done. Are you using a builder? He should know.the new catnic is the full depth of the wall so no room to leave the concrete lintel in place plus it looks like it is currently supporting both inner and outer brick/block skins.

My bricklayer doesn’t want to remove the concrete lintel because first, it’s way too big for him to break it. Second, he’s saying if it ain’t broke don’t fix it. 🤦‍♂️ Basically doesn’t want to do the hard job. Right, as for depth, it’s got the right depth for the inner leaf. These windows had smaller lintels at the front which were removed and behind it is this bigger concrete lintel. 

[joe90]

It sounds like you can retain the concrete for the inner leaf and use a different lintel for the outer leaf. @Gus Potter is your man as per his post above 👍

[MikeGrahamT21]

Looks like the very same lintels i have, ideal homes build by any chance?

 

So the inner lintels if they are the same as mine will be chamfered toward the outer leaf, meaning no chance of leaving it there without it touching any concrete outer lintel.

 

How are you resizing? Are the openings getting smaller or bigger? If smaller, then they can stay as they are, they would only need removing if you were going bigger.

 

I opted not to touch these lintels due to their size, and they'll be a good 200KG plus in weight

[Oceanjules]

13 hours ago, MikeGrahamT21 said:

Looks like the very same lintels i have, ideal homes build by any chance?

 

So the inner lintels if they are the same as mine will be chamfered toward the outer leaf, meaning no chance of leaving it there without it touching any concrete outer lintel.

 

How are you resizing? Are the openings getting smaller or bigger? If smaller, then they can stay as they are, they would only need removing if you were going bigger.

 

I opted not to touch these lintels due to their size, and they'll be a good 200KG plus in weight

No, not that company. 
 

the windows will be made smaller. Will need bricking up on the left side looking at the property. 
 

Did the building inspector say anything about it? 

 

[Oceanjules]

14 hours ago, joe90 said:

It sounds like you can retain the concrete for the inner leaf and use a different lintel for the outer leaf. @Gus Potter is your man as per his post above 👍

Thats the plan. Just leave the concrete lintel inside and use it for inner leaf. Will put the catnic and just put the blocks for the outer leaf.

 

will see how this bricky will tackle this tomorrow.