X201
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Post by X201 on Oct 5, 2022 20:52:38 GMT
Close, getting new windows but just happen to be stripping the plaster off the walls and spotted that there isn’t a lintel.
There’s one above the back window, but not the front.
Some windows can be structural, so you don’t need a lintel, but modern replacement windows tend to need them.
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nexus6
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Post by nexus6 on Oct 6, 2022 6:54:46 GMT
How have you found out the external line doesn’t have a lintel if you’re stripping the plaster from the inside?
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Post by freddiemercurystwin on Oct 6, 2022 7:23:21 GMT
He's getting new windows, anyway, install a suitable lintel.
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X201
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Post by X201 on Oct 6, 2022 7:30:42 GMT
How have you found out the external line doesn’t have a lintel if you’re stripping the plaster from the inside? I can see the brickwork. |
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Tomo
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Post by Tomo on Oct 6, 2022 7:36:52 GMT
Checkatrade and the like are renowned for being a supply of unscrupulous and poor quality tradesman, he might be good but you takes your chances, employ him at your peril. Is he FENSA registered? Never heard this before. In my experience, the people I've had through checkatrade have been competent, but it's been eye wateringly expensive. And I don't think it's just cos I'm in central London. But then the roulette wheel of tradesmen is something I really hate, so it's a tricky one. |
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Post by Dougs on Oct 6, 2022 7:40:13 GMT
Speaking of issues, noticed some black spot mould in the dining room and in the chimney. The washing machine is immediately behind it but couldn't see any leaks from the infill or waste. Checked again after it came back and it's has to be the problem. Floor is slightly wet at the back but not flooded. Must be a slight drip that's been going on for ages.
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nexus6
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Post by nexus6 on Oct 6, 2022 8:07:26 GMT
How have you found out the external line doesn’t have a lintel if you’re stripping the plaster from the inside? I can see the brickwork. Sorry, I'm not trying to be difficult or anything just trying to understand the set up. So you're stripping the internal walls of plaster down to the brick yes? And now you can see the internal leaf appears to have no lintel? Is it a traditional cavity wall construction IE not an ancient old stone house or anything? You were saying you have no lintel to support the outer skin of bricks how can you tell that from stripping the inside? |
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X201
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Post by X201 on Oct 6, 2022 8:41:50 GMT
Sorry, I'm not trying to be difficult or anything just trying to understand the set up. So you're stripping the internal walls of plaster down to the brick yes? And now you can see the internal leaf appears to have no lintel? Is it a traditional cavity wall construction IE not an ancient old stone house or anything? You were saying you have no lintel to support the outer skin of bricks how can you tell that from stripping the inside? Plaster back to brick: Yes The external has no lintel. Internal has a concrete lintel. 1920s/30s house, traditional cavity wall.
There was plasterboard around the window opening. I've removed that and now have access to the cavity and can see the external brickwork. There's no lintel of any kind supporting the external brickwork above the window. The window frame is acting as the lintel.
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nexus6
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Post by nexus6 on Oct 6, 2022 8:56:20 GMT
I see now. Internal/external shennanigens was getting to me.
That's a ball ache for sure. As freddy says one can be put in but it's an extra cost over and above the windows.
It makes such little sense to rely on the windows to support brickwork. When was your house built?
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Post by quadfather on Oct 6, 2022 9:19:42 GMT
I just bought this light switch to replace once that's just broken in my house. I just have the standard white plastic light switches, which are hardly striking. So I thought I'd get this -  It suits my house perfectly! Now I've got to buy another 8 to replace every single one. Shit. Didn't think of that. |
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nexus6
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Post by nexus6 on Oct 6, 2022 9:24:07 GMT
I just bought this light switch to replace once that's just broken in my house. I just have the standard white plastic light switches, which are hardly striking. So I thought I'd get this - It suits my house perfectly! Now I've got to buy another 8 to replace every single one. Shit. Didn't think of that. Are they the exact same size as the plastic ones or will you have to be chipping away at the artex to get them flush? |
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X201
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Post by X201 on Oct 6, 2022 9:25:44 GMT
1920s or early 30s
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nexus6
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Post by nexus6 on Oct 6, 2022 9:28:48 GMT
Right at the start of cavity wall era so maybe an outlier. Have you had any advice from the window people - maybe they have experience in the area of this sort of thing and can give a cost to it?
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Post by quadfather on Oct 6, 2022 9:37:46 GMT
I just bought this light switch to replace once that's just broken in my house. I just have the standard white plastic light switches, which are hardly striking. So I thought I'd get this - It suits my house perfectly! Now I've got to buy another 8 to replace every single one. Shit. Didn't think of that. Are they the exact same size as the plastic ones or will you have to be chipping away at the artex to get them flush? All the light fittings, bar one are perfectly flush already. Plus there's only artex in some of the rooms, so the others will be even easier. The only one that's completely borked is the one in the music room - it's at an angle, it's been what looks like fully sealed over - would have to spend time sorting that. I might just leave it, as it's a bit of a mad room anyway |
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X201
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Post by X201 on Oct 6, 2022 9:43:22 GMT
I phoned the window people this morning. They're going to get back to me, but the secretary says that they can do it.
My main thought now is how many of the other windows need doing.
I know that the other window in the room I'm de-plastering is fine, because I can see the lintel. And I think that some of the others may have them, but I wouldn't put too much money on it.
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nexus6
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Post by nexus6 on Oct 6, 2022 9:55:43 GMT
How strange!
At least you have a way forward. Good luck
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X201
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Post by X201 on Oct 6, 2022 10:03:15 GMT
If that was about the one window being fine, but the other not. The neighbour's house was the same arrangement.
The windows are identical front and back - so that wasn't the reason. They're ex-council and were both done at the same time, so must have been some kind of reason behind it - however weird it may be.
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Post by freddiemercurystwin on Oct 6, 2022 10:52:06 GMT
It's not so uncommon, they did it at a time when calculations for loading's weren't relevant for house lintels, so a timber window head sufficed for all these years. The loading's above a window aren't typically actually very high, only a triangle of brickwork above the window though probably a little greater if immediately beneath the eaves. Nevertheless ensure your window fitters fit a Building Regs compliant lintel, it's part of their remit as Fensa (or similar) approved installers. If they were any good they should have picked it up when they came round to do the quote.
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Post by Dougs on Oct 6, 2022 11:52:09 GMT
Speaking of issues, noticed some black spot mould in the dining room and in the chimney. The washing machine is immediately behind it but couldn't see any leaks from the infill or waste. Checked again after it came back and it's has to be the problem. Floor is slightly wet at the back but not flooded. Must be a slight drip that's been going on for ages. Bosh, found the problem...the stopcock underneath the sink was dripping slowly and going perfectly down a gap in the back of the cupboard, meaning it wasn't being spotted. Seeped right under the wall. Sorted with PTFE tape until I can get around to replacing the stopcock properly. Phew. |
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Post by damagedinc on Oct 7, 2022 11:23:21 GMT
Our bedrooms almost finished. Been a slog but getting there renovating this house.
Struggling to decide on flooring though. We were going to go solid wood as we plan on dying here. Everyone seems to be pointing us towards LVT though.
Any of you had experiences with either?
Spoke to a carpenter and we can source the wood floor ourselves from on-line same price as high end LVT.
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Post by technoish on Oct 7, 2022 11:28:30 GMT
Our bedrooms almost finished. Been a slog but getting there renovating this house. Struggling to decide on flooring though. We were going to go solid wood as we plan on dying here. Everyone seems to be pointing us towards LVT though. Any of you had experiences with either? Spoke to a carpenter and we can source the wood floor ourselves from on-line same price as high end LVT. Do you mean engineered wood for the floor? I would personally always go for real materials. I don't think you really need the benefits of LVT for bedrooms (the mopping up spills stuff etc). But I have like zero experience with LVT myself. |
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mrpon
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Post by mrpon on Oct 7, 2022 11:37:23 GMT
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Post by dfunked on Oct 7, 2022 11:38:09 GMT
I don't think you really need the benefits of LVT for bedrooms (the mopping up spills stuff etc). Speak for yourself! |
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Post by stixxuk on Oct 7, 2022 12:16:08 GMT
I got LVT downstairs, really like it although it has faded a bit after only 2 years where it's had a proper beating from the sun (south facing bifolds).
I imagine the wood would be nicer in a bedroom...
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Post by Dougs on Oct 7, 2022 12:28:14 GMT
Much as I like wood/tiles etc, I prob would only have it downstairs. Carpets in the bedroom purely for the colder winter months. If abroad, then defo. In-laws used to have parquet flooring throughout in their house in France, it was baltic in the bedrooms
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mrpon
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Post by mrpon on Oct 7, 2022 12:29:42 GMT
Yeah LVT for the public areas, carpet for the privates.
[insert merkin joke here]
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Post by damagedinc on Oct 7, 2022 13:33:27 GMT
Well found some decent prices for real wood and engineered. Although it's online so not sure about the quality. www.ukflooringdirect.co.uk/ Modeleo (spelling) was one of the ones recommended amtico and karndean aswell. We did think carpet but purely as an aesthetic like the wood look. |
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mrpon
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Post by mrpon on Oct 7, 2022 13:35:51 GMT
I've ordered a range of samples to see what I like.
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Post by dfunked on Oct 7, 2022 13:39:37 GMT
We've only got ratty carpet left on the stairs and landing and I'm getting tempted to rip it up in the hopes that whatever is under it is serviceable. Didn't mind having a wooden bedroom floor at all last winter despite thinking I'd hate it.
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Post by freddiemercurystwin on Oct 7, 2022 14:34:35 GMT
If funds permit: Quickstep Capture
If budget won't stretch to that consider either Quickstep Loc laminate or Elka 8mm
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