lintel price?

[meltoadhall]

we were quoted �450 for a new double glazed window which we accepted, today the surveyer came to check it out and said we needed a lintel to stop the bricks falling out when the window is removed. he couldnt give me a price and said they would be in touch.
question is how much should i expect to have to pay extra for it? the window is 2580mm x 1270mm and will have one tilt and turn window in it
thanks

[Golden Shred]

The new window is going into an existing opening about 8'6" wide that does not have a lintol? Amazing. If in actual fact there is no lintol then for that width it may be necessary to needle and prop whatever is above whilst the existing brickwork is cut out, a new lintol inserted, everything pinned up and made good and the needles made good. At least �1500.

[CSG2306]

Hi Meltoadhall,

If the window company are replacing an existent window with a new on of the same size, there should be an existing lintel. There must be a lintel over your old window.

If however the existing window is being replaced with a larger one, then you must have a new lintel that will extend over the new window by at least 12" either side, otherwise the wall above the window will collapse.

Regards

[meltoadhall]

its an ex council house that we bought from the tenants who had bought it.
the best way of describing it is as vertical bricks above the window with the horizontal normal house bricks (does that make sense?) around the window.
its replacing the same size just single for double glazing.
if its going to be that much then we will have to cancel and put up with the wind blowing the curtains for another winter :(

[Golden Shred]

The vertical bricks above the window are what is known as a flat arch. They act as a lintol to the outside skin of your house, and nothing further at all is required unless some bricks are loose or falling out, in which case they can be replaced and all will be well once the mortar has set. There is almost certainly a concrete lintol supporting the inside skin, and to check this get a small drill and drill through the plaster inside. You will easily tell when you strike concrete. If you do not, drill into the underside at the top of the window and see if you strike metal. There is almost certainly something there supporting the inner skin. It is of course possible that the d/g company have given you a too cheap price on your window and/or the operatives are hoping to find someone to take for a ride by falsely turning it into a bigger job.

[meltoadhall]

thank you so much much for your answer.
one of the bricks was pointed out to me as having the mortar around it cracked. he said it would fall out and be dangerous, so if all that needs doing is replacing the brick and remortaring then that is such a relief!! will get the drill out tomorrow! :)
the company was recommended by a friend so i hope they are not trying to take me for a ride.