How To Tell If Your Lintel Needs Replacing

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How To Tell If Your Lintel Needs Replacing
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• As an integral structural element of any
  building, whether industrial, commercial or
  residential, lintels act as a bridge between two
  columns that are vertically placed (typically
  doors and windows), ensuring that the structures
  weight can be distributed accordingly. They are
  most often made from concrete or steel.
• Over time, even those lintels that have been
  professionally installed can suffer from wear and
  tear, and when this happens, depending on the
  extent of the damage, they may need to be
  replaced before jeopardizing the entire
  structural integrity of the building.
• If you suspect that your lintels may need
  replacing, or would like to know what signs to
  look for in a damaged lintel, here is a short
  guide

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• Common signs a lintel needs to be replaced
• When working properly and undamaged, most
  building owners wouldnt even know the lintels
  are there, but when they start to disintegrate or
  degrade, you may seem some, or all of the
  following signs
• Bricks jutting out
• Over the passing of time, weak and damaged
  lintels can make the bricks surrounding them
  falter or move out of place slightly, and when
  you notice this happening, you must seek
  professional help immediately. If you dont
  respond swiftly to this problem, the building
  could suffer further, more serious damage, and
  even go on to present itself as a deadly threat
  to the safety of anyone inside it.

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• Cracks in the mortar line
• If you begin to notice cracks appearing in the
  topmost corner of your doors or windows, this is
  a sure sign that something is amiss with the
  lintels and you should ask a masonry contractor
  to assess the problem for you. Should you notice
  cracks appearing along the bricks themselves,
  this should also give you cause to take action.
  Any damage to lintels could compromise the
  brickwork of a building, and therefore, its
  entire structural integrity.

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• Cracks around windows
• As touched upon above, cracks around any of the
  buildings windows could be an indicator that the
  lintel needs immediate attention, and if the
  briockwork surrounding the window is
  deteriorating, this is also a strong indicator of
  lintel failure. Remember that the weather and
  humidity can both put additional strain on a
  lintel, and in some instances, can cause it to
  warp and bend.
• While lintels can last for many years without
  causing any problems to a structure, prolonged
  periods of rain and damp weather, may cause them
  to degrade sooner than they might otherwise.

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• How can you prevent your lintels from failing?
• Ultimately, if you live in an older building,
  having the old lintels replaced offers a number
  of significant advantages, and it typically pays
  to have this done sooner rather than later, in
  order to avoid the costlier expense of damage
  being caused to your home.
• If you suspect that your lintels may be failing,
  or are worried about the potential of them doing
  so in the future due to the age of the building,
  schedule an assessment with a professional
  masonry contractor, who can guide you in terms of
  the process and advise whether lintel replacement
  is the most appropriate course of action at this
  stage.

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• Fortunately, having your lintels replaced
  nowadays is a quick, affordable and
  non-disruptive way to protect your home and
  maintain its structural integrity, so if your
  lintels have begun to fail, theres no reason to
  panic as the problem can be fixed simply and
  quickly.

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• RZ Construction Group Inc is one of the best
  fully inclusive general contractors and masonry
  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 all kinds of
  home renovation services and masonry 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 a concrete contractor or want to know more
  about our wide range of professional but
  affordable construction and repair services,
  reach out to us at [phone].