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For Lintel Replacement Chicago, IL Choose TopLine

Now, what is a lintel? A lintel is a horizontal architectural member of a structure and usually responsible for supporting the weight of various building wall components located above openings such as windows, doors, or portals.

When you monitor your masonry walls and spot the signs of a corroding lintel quickly, you can save you a lot of money. It can also prevent any structural severe stability issues. When you have mortar cracks at the upper corners of doors, windows, and/or portals, loose pieces of mortar falling from the joints are the signs that you need to look out for. TopLine Lintel Replacement is the place where you can get the highest quality of lintel replacement in Chicago at an affordable price that will not burn a hold in your wallet. Our team is here to provide a thorough inspection of your structural buildings that will ensure your structure is durable.

Lintel Explained By Topline Lintel Replacement Chicago, IL

Some people may be perplexed as to what a lintel is and what function it serves in a home. So, let’s take a quick look at lintels and what they do to a building.

A beam will be installed above any doorway or window in a home, running across the top of the opening and resting on the brickwork on either side for masonry Chicago. These lintels can be made of natural or man-made materials, but keep in mind that they are frequently made of wood, which can pose different problems than, say, a stone, concrete, or steel lintel.

To avoid overloading the doorway or window below, these lintels help deflect the whole force of the wall above and surrounding these openings. If this happens, windowsills and entrances may become cracked and useless, thus requiring a lintel replacement Chicago in that case.

SIGNS YOU NEED TOPLINE FOR LINTEL REPLACEMENT CHICAGO, IL

Your lintel is a support member made up of a long, solid block, and is located above doors and windows, and it carries a lot of weight. So, when your lintel is damaged beyond what can be repaired, it is time for a lintel replacement in your Chicago building. 

Mortar cracks: You see cracks in the corners of doors and windows. This is the easiest warning that your lintels are in trouble. The cracks will be seen more so in the higher corners than the lower corners, and must be taken seriously. Call TopLine LIntel Replacement in Chicago immediately.

Line cracks in a mortar: If your lintel is worse than you might assume based on the window cracks, upon further inspection you will probably see cracks along the walls around the lintel. With the cracks comes the likelihood of stone shifting, and loose stones are a big red flag to get out. Contact TopLine LIntel Replacement in Chicago and we will handle this problem.

LINTEL REPLACEMENT CHICAGO, IL – WHAT DOES A LINTEL REPLACEMENT PROCESS LOOK LIKE?

Lintels, which are load-bearing supports over doors and windows, can overtime crack or expand and need lintel replacement. TopLine Lintel Replacement Service has replaced concrete, brick, metal, and timber lintels for years in Chicago.

Concrete lintels reinforced with steel rods can corrode or expand, creating cracks. We use support props while removing the cracked sections, cleaning out the rust, and replacing the rods while reshaping the lintel using a fast-drying concrete. Brick lintels are repaired by replacing segments of the pointing and inserting a remedial bar system. This creates a masonry beam with excellent load-bearing capacity and capable of supporting the brickwork above. Metal and timber lintel replacement can be done either by supplementing the existing lintel or replacing the lintel. The brickwork above may require repointing.

TopLine Lintel Replacement Service provides minimal-disruptive and cost-effective lintel replacement to your home in Chicago that will be practically invisible.

LINTEL REPLACEMENT CHICAGO, IL – WHEN IS NECESSARY?

Lintels are an essential element to the structural integrity of a building. A lintel, usually a steel angle iron or I beam, is used to hold up the mortar work above your doorways and windows. When this steel beam starts to age and rust, it will cause beam expansion. This creates a thicker beam in a place it’s not supposed to be, and the result is that your mortar begins to be pushed out of place and starts to crack. Expansion force can compromise your structure and lead to more significant problems if not treated. Look around your window and door openings, and if you observe diagonal cracks in a step pattern, this is a sign that you need lintel replacement because of rusted lintels. 

Our highly skilled lintel replacement team in Chicago can help with this. It is challenging to match mortars, and a person who has training and experience in matching color pigments is required. Call us today and schedule your lintel replacement in Chicago.

How to Know if Your Window Needs a Lintel Replacement Chicago

Our masonry restoration Chicago experts are experienced and understand how to stop the tell-tale signs of much-needed lintel repair. They will check for the most obvious sign, broken glass on the existing window. Any excess weight on the window will result in broken glass, a sure indication that a lintel replacement Chicago is required. They may also notice some cracks above the window. The “pyramidal” crack in the brickwork over the window indicates that bricks may fall out when the window is removed. We certainly do not want to find that.

As local masonry contractors, TopLine Lintel Replacement Chicago knows your area, so we have worked in your neighborhood and seen your type of property many times. So we can usually tell if you need a lintel replacement pretty quickly. Whether it’s common wear and tear, or an unscrupulous builder that did not work to code, we’ll give you the right advice and there will only be a cost if we are certain that you need a lintel replacement in Chicago.

Different Types of Lintels That can Become Damage – TopLine Lintel Replacement Chicago, IL

Timber Lintel Replacement: Timber lintels are frequently used in older structures and can survive as long as steel or concrete lintels, but they are susceptible to humidity. If this happens, it could lead to woodworm, dry rot, or wet rot infestations. The structural engineer will have to substitute them with helical spiral bars to fix the problem.

Metal Lintel Replacement: Metal lintels will corrode with time, causing them to expand and crack. Depending on the condition, an engineer will need to replace the current lintel or plug in the crack using a resin injection.

Brick Lintel Replacement: Helical bars were used to repair brick lintels and brick arch lintels. The anchor grout binds the helical bars together, resulting in a sturdy masonry beam.

Concrete Lintel Replacement: Concrete lintels are reinforced with steel rods for enhanced protection. While it improves the lintel’s integrity, it can also cause it to be harmed by penetrating dampness. When moisture penetrates the concrete, the rods expand and begin to rust, which causes them to split. To repair this, the concrete lintel may need to be replaced.

Topline is one of the best lintel replacement companies in Chicago, determined to help you with your lintel issues at all times. Whatever material your lintels are, Topline Lintel Replacement Chicago is there to help you.

What Are The Reasons That You Might Want
Your Lintel Replacement Chicago, IL?

Natural decay
Damp and extreme weather conditions are affecting your property’s fabric day by day. After several years, lintel replacement Chicago will be necessary because the materials used for lintels gradually expand, rust, and rot. These issues will naturally lead to cracks and weaken the lintel of your abode.

Wall Foundations
The foundation of a building is affected by the changing of the water table or shifting ground levels. Suppose there is a change in the building foundation. The wall on top of it might lose its natural structural integrity. If this is the case, the building’s lintel might have to carry a heavier load than normal, eventually causing cracks.

Older construction methods
Some masonry contractors Chicago apply older construction methods of masonry where they install window frames and metal doors instead of lintels. If you are trying to spot a lintel in your building and couldn’t find it, the contractors don’t necessarily forget to install it.