Wooden lintel over door. Should I change?

[qamar]

Hi Everyone,

I was getting rid of loose plaster in the kitchen to get ready for skimming. Above the kitchen door there is a wooden lintel which seems to be resting on the inner course of bricks. Looking through the gap at the side of the lintel I can't seem to see any other lintel so am wondering how the above wall is being supported. The outside wall has a pebbledash render so I plan to chip away to see if I see another lintel.

 

The wooden lintel is starting to show some effects of damp rot on the surface, probably due to a steamy kitchen.

 

Just looking for advice on what my plan of action should be here. Also is it common for older houses to have wodden lintels like these. I think the house may have been built around 1930 - 1949

 

Thanks in advance

 

 

[Super_Paulie]

my 1930s place has wooden lintels over the doors and windows, pretty must the same as what you have there. From what i recall there is no outer lintel, but rather the soldier course rests on top of the original wooden window frame. Obviously most of these are now replaced for double glazing, so the bricks rest on the UPVC frame, which is far from ideal but seems a pretty common way of doing it.

 

As its rendered on the other side this seems like it might be pretty destructive to change. Id just leave it if it was me, unless its truly rotten.

[joe90]

13 hours ago, qamar said:

so I plan to chip away to see if I see another lintel.

If it ain’t broke, don’t mend it.

[qamar]

Thanks everyone.

I spoke to a structural engineer and he said that it was common for the inner leaf (i assume bricks course) would have a wooden lintel. The outer leaf in my case has a Masonary Arch. So i am ok but he advised i change the wooden lintel for a concrete one as the wooden ones can rot. My one is showing some signs of getting soft in areas so I will change.

Below is the door from the outside which does look like an arch