I've just bought a 6x4 concrete lintel to be positioned above a window (was a door) in the inner half of a solid 9" brick wall in my 150 year old end terrace. I removed the plaster above the window and the bricks were just hanging there! The outside half of the wall has the original stone (?) lintel still in place. Was going to use 4x2 lintel but so many bricks fell down a 6 x 4 can fit in easily now!
I got it home and found that one side is 6" and the side parallel to this is slightly shorter than 6" so that the lintel has a taper. As I'll be using it with the 4" side horizontal it leans over slightly, and so I'll have to bed it on a wedge of cement and likewise have the bricks sitting on it on a wedge of cement to keep everything level.
I phoned the place where I bought it and was told that they are made like that to get them out of the mold.... we don't make them .... it's ok .. They weren't convincing.
Is this ok, and if so, is there a preference for which way the taper should go (6" side facing out into the room or facing the bricks?).
Thank you,
Neil