What if we use the wrong lintels over our windows, doors or garage? The answer to this question can have significant consequences.
Each part of the construction of our house has its own function and role. That is why it is so important not to overlook even the smallest details. We have already written about what can happen if we secure the foundation incorrectly. And what if we use the wrong lintels over our openings.
Although lintels often remain in the shadow of the more visible elements of a building, their proper design and execution is very important for the stability of the entire structure.
Lintel function
A lintel is a horizontal beam that is placed above an opening in the wall. Its purpose is to transfer the load of these higher parts of the wall or other building elements to the sides of the opening. This opening is usually those prepared for the insertion of windows, doors or garage doors. So in practice, this means that the lintels must withstand the weight not only of the wall itself, which is above them, but also the load of the entire structure, including the ceiling or roof.
The use of lintels with too little load-bearing capacity can cause a number of undesirable structural phenomena that can threaten the stability of the entire building. What if we use lintels that are too weak?
- Wall cracks – Lintels that cannot adequately carry loads can lead to the appearance of cracks in the walls, which will be visible from outside or inside the building. These cracks may initially be small, but over time they can spread and lead to a weakening of the building structure.
- Weakening of the building structure – Weak or poorly sized lintels can make the walls unable to adequately carry loads from these higher parts of the building. This can lead to uneven settlement of the structure, resulting in further damage.
- Threat to the safety of users – In extreme cases, poorly selected lintels with too little load-bearing capacity can completely fail, which even threatens to collapse a section of the wall, ceiling or other part of the structure.
Types of lintels
We can distinguish the types of lintels by the material from which they are made. There are wooden, masonry or concrete lintels.
Wooden ones are flat beams that are made of hard wood.
We can divide masonry lintels into reinforced and unreinforced ones. These are ready-made elements made of bricks reinforced with steel bars or just without them.
Reinforced concrete beams are those that are poured directly on site from or prefabricated. Pre-stressed concrete lintels are those that are manufactured from prestressed steel and concrete.
Once we know what lintels are made of, it is also important to distinguish them in a direct division into prefabricated and monolithic.
Prefabricated – These are ready-made elements made of reinforced concrete, which can be purchased in standard dimensions and built into the wall during construction. Their main advantage is the speed of installation and low price. However, prefabricated lintels have their limitations in terms of load-bearing capacity, especially for buildings with higher structural loads. In a situation where you plan to build a roof with heavy materials, such as clay tiles, the use of prefabricated lintels may not be sufficient. Their load-bearing capacity may be too low, increasing the risk of wall cracks and other structural damage.
Monolithic – are elements that are made on site by pouring concrete directly into the previously prepared formwork. Monolithic lintels are characterized by higher load capacity than prefabricated ones, because they are designed individually for each opening, taking into account the specific loads acting on a given part of the building. They are particularly recommended for larger openings or buildings with heavy roofs, where the loads can be much higher than for standard single-family houses.
Which ones to choose?
The answer is simple – it depends. It’s best to leave the decision to use a particular type to the professionals. Energetic Design, which builds houses from scratch, has an experienced team with expertise at every level of cooperation. In many cases, it is not worth the risk and use solutions that are cheaper or seem better to us. The general contractor takes the burden of every decision he makes in the way of putting up your four walls. The investor is also protected by a warranty as well as a guarantee, which makes us confident in the contractor’s actions.
Don’t take risks and build your dream home with us!
