Lintel Replacement & Steel Repair in Indianapolis, IN
Replacing rusted angle iron above windows, doors, and garage openings.
The problem, explained
Steel lintels — the angle iron above windows, doors, and garage openings in a brick veneer wall — rust over time. Rusting steel expands, and expanding steel lifts the brick course above it, producing horizontal cracking and displaced brick. This is very common in brick-front subdivision housing built in the 1990s and 2000s, which is now reaching the age where it appears. Most homeowners have never heard of it and do not know what they are looking at. The horizontal crack above a window or garage door is the signature.
How we do it
- 1Identify the rusted lintel and the horizontal cracking and displaced brick above it.
- 2Support the brick above the opening and remove the rusted steel.
- 3Install new galvanized or primed steel sized for the opening.
- 4Reset the displaced brick and repoint the joint with matched mortar.
- 5Seal the steel and review the finished work with you.
What it costs to think about
Lintel replacement is priced by the length of steel, the number of openings, the brick that needs resetting above it, and access. It is one of the most common — and most preventable — repairs on 1990s and 2000s subdivision homes. We give a written estimate after seeing the openings.
We don't publish price lists because the scope varies too much from job to job. The honest number comes from seeing your wall, your chimney, or your site in person. Read more about how masonry work is priced in Indianapolis.
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Free estimate. We'll tell you honestly what we see.
Lintel Replacement & Steel Repair — frequently asked questions
What is a lintel and why would it need replacing?
A lintel is the steel angle iron that carries the brick above a window, door, or garage opening. It rusts over time, and rusting steel expands. The expansion lifts the brick course above it and produces a horizontal crack. Replacing the rusted steel and resetting the brick fixes it.
I have a horizontal crack above my garage door. Is that the lintel?
Very likely. A horizontal crack directly above a window, door, or garage opening, often with brick that has shifted or lifted, is the signature of a rusting lintel. It is common on 1990s and 2000s subdivision homes and worth looking at before the brick displaces further.
Can you just seal the crack instead of replacing the steel?
Sealing the crack does not stop the steel from rusting and expanding underneath. The crack will reopen and grow. The real fix is replacing the rusted lintel and resetting the brick. We tell you plainly when that is what the wall needs.
How do I stop a new lintel from rusting again?
We use galvanized or properly primed steel and seal it against water entry. The original lintels rusted because water reached the steel; the replacement has to keep water off it. We explain the detailing when we do the work.
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