Bournemouth & surrounding areas
Lintel Replacement & Repair in Bournemouth
Cracking or sagging above a window or door across Bournemouth, diagnosed honestly, then repaired or replaced.
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Signs you might need lintel repair in Bournemouth
- A sagging window or door line, particularly on period properties
- Visible timber decay or rot around an opening
- Cracking in the brickwork above a window or door
- Rust staining bleeding through render or brickwork above an opening
- Spalling concrete directly above a window or door
- Doors or windows that have started sticking or no longer close properly
Timber lintels rot from the inside out, often invisibly until the damage is significant, which is why a sagging window line is worth investigating properly rather than ignoring.
Bournemouth · recent project
Rotten timber lintel
What we found: A timber lintel had decayed so badly it had effectively snapped, causing a visible sag in the window line above.
What's causing it: Timber rots from the inside out, often invisibly until the damage is significant — by the time it's visibly sagging, as it was here, the timber has typically lost enough structural integrity that it's no longer genuinely supporting the load above, regardless of how it looks from outside.
What we did: The decayed timber was removed entirely and replaced with a modern concrete lintel, with the surrounding brickwork made good to match. Completed over 2 days, with before, during, and after photos showing the full extent of the original decay.
Why lintels fail in Bournemouth
Alongside the usual corrosion-driven failures in steel and concrete lintels, Bournemouth's older housing stock means we regularly come across timber lintels — common in period properties before concrete and steel became standard. Timber rots from the inside out, often invisibly until the damage is significant, which is why a sagging window line or visible decay around an opening is worth investigating properly rather than ignoring.
Replacing a timber lintel with a modern concrete one, as on the job above, removes the risk of the same decay recurring — concrete doesn't rot, and properly installed, lasts significantly longer than the timber it replaces.
Lintel replacement cost in Bournemouth
A typical job in Bournemouth starts from around £800. The actual figure climbs depending on the lintel material, how far the decay or damage has progressed, and access to the site. Here's what actually moves the price:
- Extent of decay — timber lintels that have rotted significantly, like the example above, may need more surrounding brickwork made good
- Lintel type — replacing timber with concrete is generally more involved than a straightforward steel-for-steel swap
- Making good — matching render or pointing to the surrounding period property can add time
- Access — ground-level openings are straightforward; upper floors may need scaffolding
A site survey is the only reliable way to get an accurate number for your property, and ours are free across Bournemouth and the wider Dorset area.
Common questions
How do I know if my lintel is timber, steel, or concrete?
On older period properties, especially those built before concrete and steel became standard, it's worth assuming a timber lintel could be present until confirmed otherwise. A survey can identify the lintel type without needing to open up the brickwork.
How much does lintel replacement cost in Bournemouth?
Jobs generally start around £800, but the lintel material, how far the decay or damage has progressed, and how accessible the property is all affect the final figure. A site survey gives you a proper number.
Why replace a timber lintel with concrete rather than timber?
Concrete doesn't rot, so replacing a decayed timber lintel with a modern concrete one removes the risk of the same problem recurring, while still being installed sympathetically on period properties.
Noticed a problem like this?
Bournemouth's older housing stock means we regularly come across timber lintels, which can decay significantly before there's any visible sign from outside. With over 30 years of experience diagnosing structural lintel failure, we know how to spot the early signs and recommend the right repair before the damage becomes severe. If you've noticed a sagging window line or visible decay on a property in Bournemouth, get in touch today for a free survey.
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Areas we cover
Poole, Christchurch, and the wider Dorset area.