Well clearly the window frame is supporting the bricks so if you just remove it without using acrow props in a couple of places then the wall will probably fall down. Maybe that's not what you meant. If it's survived happily without a lintel until now then a new window of similar strength will no doubt survive just as well. There's certainly no visible cracking anywhere so it's all sturdy enough apparently.
Personally I'd just remove a couple of bricks above the frame, prop the wall, take out the old window and put a new one in then replace the two bricks. If you wanted to add a lintel you could prop the wall one layer higher, remove a course of bricks and do it while the old window is out but it looks like an unnecessary expense.
I have a thought which others might be able to comment on. Given the limited weight above the window there might be an easier way to support the wall than removing bricks and using acrows. Drill through the mortar between the bricks above the frame in say 4 places, every foot or so, and clamp the wall using two lengths of 4x4, one inside and one outside and some nuts and 1/2" studding. I'm betting that would hold everything quite firmly until the new frame was in.
Your pictures do not indicate just how manyrows of bricks are above the window frame. I take it that this is just a garage and there is nothing above. If this is the case, then personally, I would put a lintel in as I can see four rows of bricks in your picture and that is quite a bit of weight bearing down on a wooden frame. Between your window and the brickwork above, there is quite a space filled with mortar, the mottar could, and I have seen this done a few times, be covering a think metal bar or bars, which have been let into the bricks to act as a lintel. Very careful inspection should give you some indication if this is the case.
-- troubleinstore
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When I moved into this house, I had a window in the kitchen changed for one about 4 times the width. The original had a brick 'arch' as a lintel.
They simply smashed the whole lot out, not a prop in sight, before installing the new lintel. So about 2/3rds of a 9" brick wall on the ground floor of two totally unsupported until the lintel went in.
I was gutted, but they said they always do it this way...
That's a double wall though and they self support quite well with the bricks interlocking in both directions. Also was it a rendered wall? The render can help hold it together to some extent. A single wall like the OP's has very little support for a large hole in it.
I'm facing the same dilemma as I look at replacing the old Crittal windows in my house. The concrete frames act as their own lintels so I'll need new lintels to put modern frames in. A builder friend reckons the walls won't collapse even if the old windows are just smashed out but I'm leaning towards putting lintels in before removing the concrete frames.
I note the window frame is not too substantial. Wooden lintels have been used aplenty on old builds, but a thin strip like that I cant see holding much. So I wouldnt rely on the window frame to support in this case - althought it might be doing so.
Whenever the Germans invade Europe, they always invade Russia at the same time too. Lots of people think this is a good thing. (No-one tell them different though eh?)
I once had the priviledge of working for a cowboy outfit that pulled out a bay window without supporting the wall or the ceiling. The mess was quite interesting apparently. The plasterboard or whatever, hinged into the living room and sprayed everywhere.
Suprisingly the tenants allowed them to continue despite the replacement windows being the wrong size.
The "outside" picture appears to show new cement pointing in places, is this the case? If support is needed, I should be inclined to gently cut out the middle brick above, probably by stitch-drilling, and prop with a couple of pieces of timber. If you want to just replace the window, I wouldn't bother with a lintel. You could consider replacing with a window and door, if this would be useful.
My initial thoughts too. However, they were an experienced small firm, and I'd happily take their word that they'd done this before many times. The final job was perfectly satisfactory, as was the price.
Yup. They had the lintel in by mid morning having started at about 8, and all the brickwork done by lunch. The window was in and the house secure by the time they left in the evening.
there are lots of practices one can do for years and be ok with, like live wiring, leaving out earth lines and so on. But they are still a risk factor, there is going to be one at some point with unexpected complications, and... gotcha. Skilled experienced people are not immune, but sometimes they can think they are.
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