load bearing double glazing

[TP]

Hi,

My house is a victorian terrace , the windows typically have a stone lintel above them which is visible from the exterior. I have one window that someone in the distant past has seen fit to increase the size of. They have fitted a pretty bog standard looking single glazed window.

Now my concern is that there doesnt appear to be any extenstion in the lintel width - in fact other than the old lintel (which now only goes half way over the width of the window) - there is no other support - never really thought about it before - luckily there is no sagging - but there is a small crack extending upward from the corner of the old lintel which is a tad scary!

Now Im thinking of getting new double glazing put into this window as the frames are starting to rot (nothing too major mind).

Does anyone know if double glazing can be supplied with load bearing frames. Do such frames exist and are they very expensive? It seems like a got opportunity to sort out this lack of decent support.

I got a double glazing chap coming round next week but thought I raise the question here to see what my options may be.

Thanks

Tim

[G&M]

Why not just put a proper new lintel in and have piece of mind. If you can lose about 4 cm then one of those steel jobs could be slid in below the existing one.

[Rick Dipper]

Sir

I found that a steel lintel had been inserted, but was very hard to see. If you dig arround in the top of the frame you might find one.

Rick

[Paul King]

I think you are worrying excessively over nothing at all... Let's face it, there's no such thing as "load bearing single glazed windows", so if the current one has survived this long, the new D/G window will too!

Realistically though, you'll probably find that a steel lintel was fitted when the window was resized - it would have to, to meet building regs.

If you want to do a "proper job" and make the lintel match the rest of the house - so that it looks dimentionally in line with the rest - you'll have to search Architectural Salvage Yards to locate a near equivalent shape/apature length match before fitting the new D/G. This would probably be my way to go - then have it professionally fitted (waranty, guarantee, insurance etc.)

[N. Thornton]

There is such a thing as load bearing window frames, but upvc are the weakest of all, and wont stand a chance of doing that. You'd be looking at stone, concrete or steel - and the latter I would not want. It may also be possible to do it with hardwood, but the wood would be quite large. Internal softwood lintels are standard kit in Victoriana.

If there is no full width lintel, and brickwork above, then its most likely unsafe. One case surviving doesnt equal safe.

And there are load bearing windows. And there are cases where such have been replaced by upvc, with costly results.

Probably, but not necessarily. I have seen things like this done with no lintel at all: it stayed up for, I'm not sure, maybe 10 years, then started to collapse. So I would find out whats there myself.

Just one caveat. This is the only window enlarged, and a greater span will need a greater thickness of stone. A piece of the same material and same dimensions will not be adequate, even to Victorian standards, let alone todays standards. But maybe it could be combined with a steel lintel above it, so you get the right look plus the strength from the steel. I'm not sure though, as any bending of the steel may transfer the forces to the stone.

If in doubt get qualified advice. I am _not_ advising you in any way here, just exploring possible options.

Regards, NT

[Michael Mcneil]

Actually it is failing. If the crack is running up diagonally from the window, it is in bad shape. The wall is ruined and will never be right. Check with your solicitor and see if anyone but you is financially responsible. It is not likely that the surveyor has failed to cover himself but you never know.

That would need to be below it if there isn't a half brick of purchase for it on either side of the window.

[N. Thornton]

I assumed there must be something for it to sit on - in fact I dont see how there could not be, unless theres a one piece concrete column there. I'm not sure I follow the logic in what youre saying.

Regards, NT