Does a new window always need a lintel?

[viking44]

Had this work done today by a local window installer/builder, the window is 600mm x 300mm and has been put into the gable end of a 170 year old end terrace.

My question is does the window need a lintel as the builder is saying it does not, I don't have a clue hence I'm asking you?

 

[TofuSpaceship]

Sure it is a small frame, which means both there are still a lot of bricks where the weight of the house can be transferred down and the uPVC frame will be relatively rigid because it is small.
So probably your house won't fall down.
But I would personally always have a lintel installed.

Also, is your builder FENSA certified? Not sure this installation would get a FENSA certificate

 

[^woody^]

by a local window installer/builder

No he wasn't.

The plasterboard security board is a nice touch though.

Ye-har!

 

[Leofric]

 

[oldbutnotdead]

Is it a full brick wall (ie 2 skins with not much of a gap between them)? If so then ask yourself what is stopping the bricks on the inner skin dropping? (The answer is friction from the mortar).
If that's a new opening & the horseman who made it isn't a member of one of the self certifying schemes then you may get bother if/when you sell the place- not sure that fensa/certass cover structural changes either.

 

[^woody^]

Ok here we go ....

First, it requires a building regulation application with the council for the structural opening in the wall.
The same application could include for the actual fitting of the window, or the alleged "builder/window fitter" could self certify this if he was a member of a scheme (FENSA for instance ) - but he would not be for long once that saw this.
It needs a lintel
It may need a tray above it
It needs DPC around it
It needs stainless angle beads around it, and a formed "bellcast" along the rop the stop water getting in at the top
It needs to be fixed with screws not foam
It needs glass
The Window Kid needs locking up, and then stringing up. Organise a posse forthwith.

 

[tony1851]

Oh, come on; at 300 wide, it will only be holding up no more than three bricks - if that.
At 170 years old, it will be a 9" solid wall - therefore no tray - the wall's rendered anyway (agree about the bellcast, though).

 

[^woody^]

Oh, come on; at 300 wide, it will only be holding up no more than three bricks - if that.
At 170 years old, it will be a 9" solid wall - therefore no tray - the wall's rendered anyway (agree about the bellcast, though).

Is that the standard you would expect if you paid someone to do a job at Chez 1851?

 

[tony1851]

 

[bernardgreen]

This "installation" if the faults are not rectified will have a paneful future.

Vibrations from opening and closing the window will over time loosen the mortar and then the othwise un-supported bricks will come loose.

It needs a lintel along with the the other items that Woody has listed.

 

[H2Gizmo]

If your asking you should know the answer... Yeahhhh