Steel & Concrete Lintels

What we supply

• Steel cavity wall lintelsInsulated galvanised lintels that support both leaves of a cavity wall.
• Single-leaf and box lintelsFor solid walls, timber frame and internal walls.
• Heavy-duty and extra-heavy lintelsFor openings carrying floors or a lot of masonry.
• Prestressed concrete lintelsPlain concrete lintels for inner leaves and internal openings.
• PadstonesConcrete pads that spread the load at the ends of beams and lintels.
• Cavity trays and stop endsTo shed water out of the cavity over openings.

Sizes and specifications

Standard	BS EN 845-2
End bearing	Typically at least 150 mm each end, check the maker's table
Lengths	Steel lintels in 150 mm steps, commonly 600 mm to 4.8 m

Sizes and standards are typical for the UK market; exact figures depend on the manufacturer and are confirmed on your quote.

Common uses

• Windows and doors in extensions
• Widening an opening
• Internal doorways
• Garage door openings

Choosing lintels

Which lintel for my opening?

Measure the clear opening, add the end bearing each side, and note the wall type (cavity width, inner and outer leaf) and what sits above. Manufacturers publish load tables; for anything carrying a floor, roof or point load get an engineer or building control to confirm.

Steel or concrete?

Steel cavity lintels support both leaves and include insulation to limit cold bridging. Concrete lintels are simple and robust for single leaves and internal walls.

Do I need a cavity tray?

Over openings in cavity walls, water in the cavity has to be directed outwards. Many steel lintels need a separate cavity tray and stop ends; check the lintel maker's detail.

Building regulations differ across the UK. In England, building work is checked against the Approved Documents, for example Part A for structure and Part L for energy efficiency, through your council's building control team or a registered building control approver. Wales has its own Approved Documents, including its own Part L for energy efficiency, and building control is handled by the local authority or a registered approver. In Scotland most building work needs a building warrant from the local authority, assessed against the Building Standards Technical Handbooks. In Northern Ireland building work follows the Building Regulations (Northern Ireland), with guidance in the Technical Booklets, and applications go to the council's building control team.

How it arrives on site

Lintels are long, so tell us about tight access. Shorter lintels can travel with a mixed load; long steel lintels are handled by hand or crane. We agree the drop point and offload method when we price your order. Read more about how delivery works.

How much do you need?

For a 2,100 mm clear opening, add at least 150 mm of bearing at each end: the lintel needs to be at least 2,400 mm long. Then pick the type for the wall build-up and check the load in the manufacturer's table, or ask your engineer if the opening carries a floor or roof.

Steel & Concrete Lintels: questions

How long should a lintel be?

The clear opening plus the end bearing at each side, typically at least 150 mm per end. Check the manufacturer's table for your lintel.

Do I need building control approval for a new lintel?

Making or widening an opening in a loadbearing wall is structural work, so in most cases yes. Building control or an engineer will confirm the lintel.

Can you tell me which lintel to use?

We can suggest options from the manufacturers' load tables based on the opening, wall type and load you describe, but for anything structural the final choice should come from your designer or engineer, and be approved through building control.

What is a padstone for?

It spreads a concentrated load, such as the end of a beam, over a larger area of masonry so the blocks or bricks underneath are not crushed.

Are steel lintels insulated?

Cavity wall steel lintels usually have insulation inside to cut heat loss at the opening. Single-leaf and box lintels may not.

Can lintels be delivered with my blocks?

Yes. We combine them on one lorry where the lengths and the route allow.