I am about to purchase a new home outside the city where building codes do not require brick window lentils to be installed. Most likely the bricks above the windows are being held up by the window and brick moulding. Most of the windows need to be replaced. Should I attempt to install window lentils? If so, should I do that before or during the window replacement? Or would it be best to just replace the windows and not try to install any lentils at all? If I do replace them, would the brick mason be the best person to call?
Thanks in advance!
Bill
Replies
I've had lentils in my soup, maybe in my salad, but never in my windows!
But as to your need, or not, for lintels over your windows, perhaps there are steel angles supporting things. Have you inspected carefully? A masonry window opening either requires a stone or concrete lintel, an arch (typically with keystone), or steel angle.
Edited 9/2/2005 7:47 pm ET by Stinger
First question, is this in earthquake country? If so, walk away from the house. Personally, I think bricks are fine so long as they don't extend more than 12 - 16 inches above grade. ;-)
The use of brick arches over windows was stopped here by the code revision of 1934, based on the failures in the Long Beach quake of 1933.
-- J.S.
It's hard for me to believe that the brick vaneer (?) was installed without lintels over the window and door openings. If that is really the case, I would not buy the house.
Look for a piece of angle iron at the inside of the bricks. It may be painted or hidden by the windor frame, but if the bricks aren't sagging, there has to be something there supporting them. Remember, the lintel is supporting whatever is above the opening. If there are cracks radiating from the windows and doors, the lintel may be inadequate, but still there. The cracks would be minimized it the bricks are longer and thinner, though(Roman Bond).
The residence where I'm working has hidden lentils. The back of the granite blocks over the windows have a keystone supported look but the backs are slotted to recieve a lentil that's bondo'd into the back of the stones. Maybe there's a similiar hidden look to your brick.
If not I agree with others, time to look at a different house.
Thanks for all the posts.
My home inspector said that is was "fairly" common for houses in the area not to have window lintels. However, I think I only noticed one window (of 15 or so) with a crack in the mortar (extends from top left corner of window vertically upward). Maybe there is hope! I'll see if I can get a close-up photograph and post a link to it. The house hits the mark on many features, so hopefully there is some solution if this turns out to be an issue.
Bill