Lintel or not?

[David Lang]

Just had the boiler changed at Handyman Towers.

When the houses were built in the 70s all the heating was oil fired, later changed to gas, and was of he hot air type, this was replaced by radiators at some stage.

Anywho, The old boiler was floor standing in a brick cupboard in the kitchen, but now resides upstairs in the airing cupboard. The brick 'cupboard' extends through the floor, up into the loft and a vent pipe goes out through the roof.

The cunning plan is to convert this old boiler cupboard into a spacious storage facility by taking out the old 4' high doors and making an opening to suit a normal size door.

The "ceiling" of the cupboard seems to be a concrete slab. However, there is a lintel above the metal door frame.

Pictures here;

Is the lintel above the door load bearing or is the slab above taking the weight?

[EricP]

Do you have the large air vent above the steel door, just under the ceiling?

If so, there is no weight above vent just the inch or so of plaster between the vent and the concrete slab lid to the cupboard.

The only weight you are dealing with above the door lintel is therefore the brickwork you want to remove anyway.

[John Rumm]

The lintel is supporting (at most) the small triangle of bricks above the doors. So with a full sized door in there, you will have a similar situation, only higher up. TBH the lining for the new door will be more than adequate for any load its ever going to have to carry.

[dennis]

I can't actually see that from the photos!

It is quite possible to need a lintel to stop the walls spreading out as the triangle of bricks will produce a sideways force at the bottom (just like a roof can, ask ARW for the photos to see), this doesn't matter in the middle of a wall where the sideways thrust will be absorbed but it can if its near a corner or if its at the end of something like a passageway. Its easy enough to take the lintel out and put it back higher up if needed, any competent DIYer or handyman should be able to manage it.

[David Lang]

Thanks for the replies. I think I'll play safe & use a couple of Acrows and re install the lintel higher up.

[David Lang]

Alas not. There is one at either side, but not above the doors.