Is angle iron adequate for lintel?

Feb 12, 2009 46 Replies
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"Angle iron" is a nickname.

It's probably still a rolled steel angle (the correct term), just a small one. I've seen them as small as 25 x 25 x 3. Smaller ones are bent from steel sheet, but I don't know what the proper name for those is. Possibly angle iron? ;-)

As for "angel iron", I think you'd be on a wing and a prayer. ;-)

Just a thought.

The OP talks about a lintel across the inner skin. Does this cross the cavity? I had something similar across a set of French Windows. The inner skin of the cavity had a concrete lintel which was probably cast in place. This was wide enough to cross the cavity and the height of the soldier course. The soldier course was then built directly on top of the steel Crittal windows. All fine until DG company removed the window and the soldier course (but fortunately not the brickwork above started to sag. Under these circumstances I wonder whether a piece of angle iron that was screwed to the inner lintel at regular intervals would provide sufficient support.

Andrew

The important thing here is to get a professional opinion from a qualified structural engineer - something to beat Anglian over the head with. Nothing less than that will do any good.

It was a simple typo. Enough of the awful puns, already.

Still, at least now I understand that Harris poll that revealed 68% of Americans believe in angles.

I'd say beating them over the head with the angle iron would do nicely.

Wot about the saxons?

(True - it was obviously a simple typo, the like of which I have many times made, but 'twas so very amusing to my silly sense of humour.)

Just don't use the one that is (almost) holding up the wall. ;-)

Right, just phoned the BCO local to my mother (yesterday I spoke to my local one for info only). Anyway, he says the same thing. Completely inadequate, they shouldn't have done it and they should have submitted a building notice first. Very friendly and co-operative about it and he even remembered his previous visit from months ago ("Oh, yes, the one where the wall was falling down") which gives you some idea of how bad it was. He's meeting me there on Monday to look at it to see what needs doing to make safe, he said he'll right a letter in support of us but he also mentioned that ultimately it's the householder who carries the can for non-compliance.

Will keep you posted.

We were somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the drugs began to take hold. I remember Bruce saying something like:

For sure. If I was doing any brickwork like that by the seat of my pants in the middle of nowhere I'd have been looking at a length of I-beam or, at a pinch, two L-sections opposing each other and straps welded across between them underneath. Ideally, I'd have looked up some prog to punch the numbers into, though.

It isn't just a question of finding a piece of software to punch numbers into. Three years at University and a similar amount of structured training, followed by a uniquely demanding examination which has to be passed to obtain professional qualification, teaches rather more understanding than that.

We were somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the drugs began to take hold. I remember Bruce saying something like:

For a twelve foot window? Nah - if it's big enough, it's strong enough. It's hardly the Forth Bridge, fgs.

No offence taken, I've been round uk-diy long enough to have seen many of these spontaneous outbreaks of Gylesbrandrethitis.

Also, I just turned up the page about 68% of Americans believing in angels. It also says that 41% don't believe in UFOs... which I think proves that 99% of pollsters don't know how to word a question sensibly.

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Its devil iron,and will cast you into the Pit.

Not surprised. Tons of the buggers round here.

I'd be looking at at least 9" deep I beam.

You would guesstimate load and look at allowable deflection and go from there to a table.

Nobody has mentioned the similarity in sound of "Anglian" and "angle iron". A coincidence? I don't think so ...

replying to mike, Nikki wrote: I have the same issue I have a 12foot window (original when built) bricks are supported currently but what looks like some bent iron and the fact the windows have metal frames. Safe style will not upgrade with French doors and side panels until I sort a proper lintel. From what I have read this is above standard and not that simple. 4 builders have looked at and ran off scared due to the size! I am at the end of my teather I don't know what to do! I don't have a lot of spare cash and everyone that looks at confuses me as I don't believe any of them really know what to do. The cavity is not really a cavity inside the house is supported by a concrete lintel the brick work on the out side is up against this no really cavity. This means I need a 12 foot + something that can only be the thickness of a brick and needs to support all of the external bricks in order for me to replace the single glazed rubbish for new pvc. I just don't know what to do I need a cost effective as possible but with out cutting corners. And pref someone who knows what they are talking about. Some say the window can stay in others say they will need to come out to do!!!!!

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