Lintel Replacement
A failing lintel is the cause, not the symptom. Fix it before the damage spreads.
About This Service
Lintel Replacement in Chicagoland
Steel lintels carry the brick load above every window, door, and garage opening in your home. When that steel corrodes and expands, it pushes the brick above outward — causing cracks, bowing, and separation that looks like a settling or foundation issue but isn't.
Lintel replacement is one of the most impactful repairs in residential masonry. We remove the affected brick above the opening, cut out the failed steel, install new galvanized or stainless lintel, and rebuild the brick above — properly supported and tuckpointed. Done right, it stops the damage cycle completely.
What's Included
- Window lintel replacement
- Door and entry opening lintels
- Garage door lintel replacement
- Brick rebuilding above openings
- Crack repair related to lintel failure
- Galvanized and stainless steel lintel installation
Our Work
Project Photos
Lintel replacement and brick rebuild
Window opening lintel replacement
Residential lintel repair complete
Garage door lintel replacement
Warning Signs
Signs You Need Lintel Replacement
Stair-Step Cracks Above Openings
Diagonal cracks running up from the corner of a window or door — especially in a stair-step pattern through the mortar joints — are the signature sign of a failing lintel underneath.
Bowing Brick Above a Window
Brick that bulges outward above a window is being pushed by a corroding steel lintel. The expansion of the rust is significant — enough to move masonry several inches if left long enough.
Rust Stains on the Brick Face
Orange or brown staining running down from the mortar joint line above a window or door is often rust bleeding out from a corroding lintel inside the wall.
Open Gap Between Lintel and Brick
A visible gap between the steel lintel and the first course of brick above it means the brick is no longer supported. This is an urgent repair.
FAQ
Common Questions
How long does a lintel replacement take?
A single window lintel is typically a one-day job. Larger openings or multiple lintels may take two days. The mortar needs 24–48 hours to cure before the repaired area should get wet.
Will the repaired area look the same as the rest of the wall?
We work to match the brick and mortar as closely as possible. New brick alongside older weathered brick will have some visible difference initially, but it weathers in over a season or two.
Is a bowing brick above a window urgent?
Yes. Brick that is noticeably bowing outward is unsupported. In a severe case it can fail suddenly. We recommend getting it assessed and scheduled for repair promptly.
Does lintel failure have anything to do with my foundation?
Lintel failure is often mistaken for foundation settlement because the cracks look similar. But lintel cracks are concentrated above specific openings and follow the mortar joints. Foundation cracks tend to be wider at the bottom and run through the brick units themselves. We can tell the difference on inspection.
More Services
Other Masonry Services We Offer
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