Why Lintels Fail
There are several factors that contribute to a failing lintel. Brick lintels are simply not designed to span large distances like those over double wide garage openings. It is paramount that proper installation procedures are performed in order to ensure a lifetime of support by your lintel.
Here I will show you some of the faux pas I have encountered in my years as a lintel repair specialist!
Number 1 Cause:
Not attached!
Not only is this lintel smaller than optimal size, it wasn't attached to the header. Many brick lintels come with pre-punched holes to allow for proper spacing and installation of hardware. The lack of understanding of the engineering involved in residential masonry is staggering, to say the least!
Other Causes
Almost only counts in horseshoes!
As you can see, the lintel doesn't span the opening and comes up just short of bearing on the brick jamb! Unfortunately, this mishap allowed the brick to crack and put undue stress on the door frame itself causing issues with the mechanics of the door operation...tsk tsk!
Two isn't always better than one!
Believe it or not, this happens more frequently than I care to mention..." Lintel not big enough? Just put two in...that ought-a do it! ". NO, this doesn't do it...unless, of course, maintaining structural integrity is of no concern! Probably had a 2x4 propped up where the lintels meet so no onw would notice till they were long gone. This job had wood trim hiding this monstrosity!
Architectural Design vs Structural Integrity!
This is quite common. You can see that the second floor is creating a " point load " in the middle of the garage door opening putting immense pressure in this area. Situations like this require special attention to reinforce properly. Even attached lintels fail in this circumstance if ANY step in the process isn't completed precisely accurately!
Sloppy...just sloppy!
Brick are porous, they absorb water and it must be handled properly. This is exactly what not to do! Excess mortar behind the brick, no flashing, and no weep holes has contributed to premature rusting and subsequent failure of the lintel. Unfortunately, lintel replacement is the only course of action in this circumstance.
How in the ????
Masonry 101...what's below must support what's above! I'm rarely nervous but this job had me taking extra precaution! The soldier course (vertical brick) were accented out almost to it's balance point and the brick directly above were accented back in creating a severe " rolling " effect. These brick were hanging on by a prayer!
Never had a chance!
In this case, there is simply nothing to attach to. The header is sometimes placed at the top of the wall and the garage opening is framed down instead of being placed at the top of the garage door and the rest of the wall framed atop the header. This scenario doesn't give the lintel anything to attach to. In this case, the brick must be extracted in a " zipper " like fashion to reach the header and the lintel can be mechanically attached via hardware and a steel bar!
Contact Us: