Rusted Lintel Removal & Replacement
We carefully remove corroded steel lintels without disturbing the surrounding brickwork, then install a properly sized replacement so the opening above your window or door is fully supported again.
Lintel Repair Experts
Lintel Replacement Washington DC
Spotted a stair-step or horizontal crack in the brick above a window or door? Don't write it off as normal settling. That crack is usually a rusted lintel talking. A lintel is the hidden steel or stone beam spanning every opening, carrying the brick above it so the wall doesn't sag.
Most DC rowhouses were built with plain steel lintels, and years of moisture have rusted many of them out. As the steel corrodes, it expands, pushing against the brick above the opening until mortar joints crack and bricks work loose. As lintel replacement contractors in Washington DC, The Brick Bros handle the full fix: removing the rusted lintel, installing a new galvanized steel lintel sized to properly carry the load, and rebuilding the cracked brick above the opening to match your home's existing color and pattern.
Left alone, a failing lintel only gets worse, and eventually that brick can come loose. If you're seeing cracks over an opening anywhere in Petworth, Brookland, Shaw, or nearby, contact us for a free inspection and quote.
Service Details
Our Lintel Replacement Services
Cracked Brick Repair Above Openings
Once a failed lintel cracks the brick above a window or door, we rebuild those courses from scratch, replacing broken bricks and repointing mortar so the wall is structurally sound again.
Galvanized Steel Lintel Installation
We install new galvanized steel lintels that resist the rust and corrosion that doomed the original, giving you a longer-lasting fix instead of a repair you'll need to redo in a few years.
Early Rust Detection & Inspection
Not sure if your lintels are failing yet? We inspect the steel above every window and door for early rust and hairline cracking so we can catch problems before they spread into the brick.
Brick Arch & Soldier Course Rebuilding
For openings with decorative soldier courses or brick arches, we rebuild the masonry above the lintel piece by piece, restoring the original look while the new steel does the structural work.
Warning Signs
Signs You Need Lintel Replacement Service in DC
Rust stains above windows
Orange or brown streaking on the brick directly above a window or door means the steel lintel behind it is corroding. Rust expands with considerable force as it forms, pushing the surrounding masonry apart from the inside.
Cracked brick above openings
Horizontal or stepped cracks running out from the corners of a window head are a classic sign of lintel failure. The steel is swelling as it rusts and lifting the brick course that sits directly on it.
Bulging or displaced brick
Brick above an opening that pushes outward or sits proud of the surrounding wall plane is being forced off the lintel by rust jacking. At that stage, full replacement is the only lasting fix still available.
A sagging window or door head
A visible dip in the brick course above an opening, or a window frame no longer sitting square in its hole, means the lintel has lost load-bearing capacity and is deflecting under the weight of the wall above.
Open joints at the lintel line
Missing mortar and a widening line where brick meets the steel let water reach the lintel and speed up corrosion dramatically. Early replacement keeps the failure from spreading along the rest of your facade opening by opening.
Water entering around windows
Leaks appearing near the top of a window frame often begin at a failing lintel rather than the window unit itself. Replacing the steel and rebuilding the brick above closes that water path, while a new window will not.
Why Choose Us
Why Choose Our Lintel Replacement Contractors in DC
Structural Load Assessment
Lintels support significant structural weight above windows and doors. We properly assess load requirements before replacement, ensuring the new lintel is correctly sized and installed to handle the building's actual demands.
Corrosion and Damage Diagnosis
We identify the root cause of lintel failure, often rust or water damage, before replacement. Addressing underlying moisture issues alongside the replacement prevents the same problem recurring in the new lintel.
Historic Property Sensitivity
For older DC buildings, we carefully match replacement lintels to the original style and material, preserving the building's appearance while ensuring modern structural performance and durability.
Licensed and Insured Work
Lintel replacement is performed by licensed, insured professionals meeting DC structural and building code requirements, giving you confidence the work is both compliant and properly documented.
Transparent, Itemized Quotes
We provide clear quotes covering assessment, materials, and installation before starting work, so you understand the full scope and cost of your lintel replacement project upfront.
Extensive Structural Experience
Our team has replaced lintels across DC's varied building stock, giving us practical knowledge of the structural considerations unique to different construction eras and styles across the city.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if it's a lintel problem and not just settling?
Lintel damage almost always shows up as a stair-step or horizontal crack that runs across the brick directly above a window or door opening, sometimes with rust stains bleeding through the mortar. General settling cracks tend to run diagonally elsewhere on the wall. If you're unsure, we'll take a look for free.
Why do so many DC rowhouses have this issue?
Most rowhouses in DC were built decades ago with plain, unprotected steel lintels rather than galvanized steel. Combined with the region's humid summers and freeze-thaw winters, that steel rusts and expands over time, which is exactly why cracked brick above windows is such a common call for us.
How much does lintel replacement cost, and how long does it take?
Cost depends on the number of openings, the extent of brick damage, and access, but most single-lintel repairs run in the low thousands and are completed in a day or two. We'll give you an exact, itemized price after a free on-site inspection.
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Talk to a local DC masonry expert about your project — no pressure, no obligation.