The 4 Main Causes Of Lintel Failure

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The 4 Main Causes Of Lintel Failure
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• Any structure with lintels professionally
  installed is likely to last a lot longer than one
  without them installed, and they can help
  buildings of all shapes and sizes maintain their
  structural integrity for many years. If youre
  having a home or commercial property built for
  you, your construction contractor will likely be
  planning to insert lintels throughout. And while
  plenty of structures dont have lintels
  installed, those that are big or which have
  foundations designed to support a significant
  weight, would almost certainly benefit from their
  installation at the point of construction.

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• That said, despite their durability and strength
  as with any other structural installation
  lintels can fail from time to time, and require
  expert help to repair and restore them,
  especially if they were originally installed on a
  building some decades ago.
• While age can have a very definite impact on the
  endurance of lintels, here are 4 other factors
  that may contribute to their failure

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• 1. Moisture exposure
• As with many materials used in construction,
  moisture can cause all manner of problems, and
  when a lintel has been placed somewhere in which
  it may be regularly exposed to moisture, this
  could, over time, cause the lintel to
  disintegrate or rot, as is often the case with
  lintels made from wood.

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• 2. Movements in a structure
• Often completely natural and totally unavoidable,
  particularly in older buildings, structural
  movements may eventually cause those parts of a
  building unable to support itself, to sag or
  drop. This can then lead to the foundation
  becoming uneven, and damage occurring to lintels.
  While these changes arent always noticeable and
  typically take place over a significant period of
  time, regular structural assessments can help
  prevent the problem from worsening.

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• 3. Replacements of doors and windows
• Even if the windows or doors in a building are
  replaced professionally, it can still cause
  lintels to fail and require attention from an
  experienced construction company. In some
  instances, doors and windows are designed to be
  able to fully support any weight from above, and
  when theyre removed, this can place undue strain
  upon any existing lintels, especially if
  replacement doors and/or windows arent sturdy
  enough.
• However, this problem is usually confined to
  older buildings that have remodeling or
  renovation work carried out on them.

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• 4. Corrosion
• Depending on what material a lintel has been
  constructed from, corrosion may take place that
  can cause it to fail over time. Steel lintels,
  for example, while designed not to rust as easily
  or quickly, are not totally impervious to
  corrosion, particularly when exposed to moisture
  on a regular basis. While steel lintels might be
  suitable for your construction project, its
  always worth checking with a local contractor to
  see what their advice would be given their
  knowledge of the local climate, and of building
  structures in general.

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• Whether youre having a new building constructed
  and want some advice on how to help maintain its
  structural integrity for many years to come, or
  whether you own an older building and would like
  to have its lintels assessed for signs of damage,
  a professional construction contractor will be
  able to guide you.

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• RZ Construction Group Inc is one of the best
  fully inclusive general contractors in NYC. From
  initial design to final clean up, our results
  speak for themselves. We are fully licensed,
  insured, and bonded to provide both commercial
  and residential construction services to
  customers in Astoria and the surrounding area. We
  also offer apartment renovation in Queens NY.
  Proud to serve New York State for 25 years. No
  job is too small nor too big. If you are looking
  for masonry contractors in Queens, NY or want to
  know more about our wide range of professional
  but affordable construction and repair services,
  reach out to us at [phone].