Cracked Brickwork Above the Garage Door?

Cracked brickwork above the garage door? Sagging lintel? 

 

Often, too often actually, you’ll find cracks in your brickwork above a garage door opening. Why?

 

There are a few possible explanations. First, this issue happens due to a sagging lintel – a steel header beam above a door, window or fireplace. The strength of the lintel might not be strong enough for the overall span above an opening. Or the lintel was not installed well, and the amount of overhang onto the adjoining brick wasn’t enough. A sagging lintel could also happen if the corners of the structure are bumped by a vehicle. 

 

You’ll see cracks near the centre of an opening. These cracks can go straight up or zig-zag up like a staircase. Cracks can also form at either corner of the door and angle outward toward the sides of the garage. 

 

These unsightly cracks can indicate the sagging lintel is a serious safety hazard. The bricks are or were tied in with brick ties. They are there to hold the bricks from falling away from the house, not to hold them up. If the lintel drops in the middle, it will bend in the shape of a smile. The brick ties are doing something they’re not designed to do and will eventually let go. 

    

So, now what?  

    

Installing a jack post in the middle of the garage door will solve this. But you’ll never park a car in the garage again. Plus, your house will sell for significantly less money because a significant structural issue exists that will convince most homeowners to choose a different home to buy. Or potential buyers will insist on reducing the purchase price by tens of thousands of dollars.

 

How do we solve this safety problem?

 

You could hire a brick mason to tear it all down and start all over. 

 

A brick mason will need to put in a much stronger steel lintel. The repair will involve days, likely a week or two, and the new brick will not match the existing brick on the house. Or – you can get us to install our Lintel Lift® and secure your home’s integrity and safety.  

 

Lintel Lift® is specifically designed for failing garage lintels. 

 

We’ll install a new “special lintel” right over your existing one. The lintels are pre-stressed, so they will put pressure back exactly where it’s needed most – the centre of the garage door. The Lintel Lift® is made from grade 50 steel and will never let you down. 

 

All this work is cleanly hidden behind the Lintel Lift® trim system so that you won’t see the new lintel. It’s white and matches most of the trim on your home now. It’s maintenance-free. If you want to paint it, you can do that as well.  

 

 

Call us now to set up your free inspection. Get peace of mind restored once and for all.