My window has no lintel

[Weetabix]

....should I be worried? The timber inside is only partially propping up what's above - there's a gap towards the end (circled) where it's not propping up anything at all.
Context: The windows were installed in the 90s, I bought the house 3 years ago. Not sure how it hasn't collapsed....does anyone else have a small window without a lintel......by any chance?!

 

[Flyfisher]

I'm no structural engineer and don't know how to do the relevant calcs to determine what's actually going on, but my take on it is that the width of wall requiring support is fairly small and the window frame itself will certainly be providing some support, so a lintel may not actually be required.

If the window was installed in the 90s, that's at least 25 years for any problems to appear, so if the window remains easy to open after all that time (ie hasn't moved under the weight of the wall) then I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[stuart45]

Although it's not technically correct and wouldn't pass Building regs, it's a relatively small span. If a problem did start to appear, it's not a massive job to stick a few lintels in. Sometimes things like this come up on a survey, and people want a few grand off the price to correct it.
Is there any evidence of the date it was installed?

 

[Gothichome]

I suspect before the vinyl salesman came around there was a much smaller window there with a proper means of transferring the load around the window. Windows should not be load bearing, the only thing I can think of is a complete rebuild of the area. You might consider installing a proper window suitable for the age and style of the home while you’re at it. I strongly suspect you be doing it soon anyway.

 

[Cubist]

I think I would be looking to remove some of that plastic trim indoors to investigate what exactly is helping that very large stone directly above the frame to defy gravity. The trim should be capable of being levered off with a spludger.

 

[Kearn]

I suspect before the vinyl salesman came around there was a much smaller window there with a proper means of transferring the load around the window. Windows should not be load bearing, the only thing I can think of is a complete rebuild of the area. You might consider installing a proper window suitable for the age and style of the home while you’re at it. I strongly suspect you be doing it soon anyway.

Not entirely true - historic timber windows didn’t always have lintels, the substantial header in the frame would be built to be more than adequate. Many examples over here where they haven’t been ripped out for modern plastic triple rubbish!

 

[Kearn]

I think I would be looking to remove some of that plastic trim indoors to investigate what exactly is helping that very large stone directly above the frame to defy gravity. The trim should be capable of being levered off with a spludger.

It’s always cobwebs!

My guess is that’s its in happy tension, pinched from either side, for now… I’d probably proceed with caution if disturbing the area, not without propping.

 

[Kearn]

Looks like the original lintel (external) is still in place, the internal one replaced with some feeble softwood.

Assuming you had a proper timber hardwood window at some stage, the frame wouldn’t have needed a lintel, being strong enough itself. That would have taken the outer skin of the wall, and a lintel to take the sandwich infill and another for the inner skin of stone. In a thick wall, it would have normally been multiple lintels.

Looks like a modern window has been popped into an opening, without supporting what’s above.

In order to remedy, if you do, then prop the entire wall thickness above the window before disturbing as it may be lateral compression that’s holding the stones where they are. That, and cobwebs of course and the fact that often things are in happy equilibrium even when they no longer should be!

 

[Gothichome]

Spludger, now there is a new work for me. Had to look it up, just a bit smarter now. Will the girls be impressed with my new addition to my vocabulary, I doubt it.

 

[Flyfisher]

While I entirely agree it's not ideal, why fix it if it ain't broke?

If the window is easy to open and close and has been for at least 25 years then what's the problem?

 

[Weetabix]

Although it's not technically correct and wouldn't pass Building regs, it's a relatively small span. If a problem did start to appear, it's not a massive job to stick a few lintels in. Sometimes things like this come up on a survey, and people want a few grand off the price to correct it.
Is there any evidence of the date it was installed?

No, but I found a load of newspapers from the 90s under the lino that was installed around the same time I think....

 

[Weetabix]

Thanks all - I shall keep calm and carry on