nhbc grp lintels and sills

[jarvis]

Hi does anyone have any information on exallot grp lintels and sills,i have an issue with them coming away from the property. according to the builder and nhbc they are not load bearing which they are and have shown them a photo to prove the point. the nhbc rep then said your house is south facing and should expect the plastic to expand and contract surely they are not fit for purpose if they expand and contract and move when they are supporting the outer skin of the house. a neighbour has had his replaced with stone as in the show house but was told that was done within the first 2 years. they are coming back soon to do investigation work and looking to reinsert them with adhesive, which i am not happy about. i have a copy of a letter sent to my neighbour form the nhbc that they do not appear to meet their standards where do i go from here.

[SteveF]

Hi Jarvis

As far as I am aware Exallot manufacture door canopies and surrounds etc....they are certainly not manufacturers of any load masonry load bearing products like lintels. They may however manufacture lintel covers which are only decorative.

Can you see either a metal or concrete lintel supporting the brickwork behind the plastic?

SteveF

[jarvis]

Hi Jarvis

As far as I am aware Exallot manufacture door canopies and surrounds etc....they are certainly not manufacturers of any load masonry load bearing products like lintels. They may however manufacture lintel covers which are only decorative.

Can you see either a metal or concrete lintel supporting the brickwork behind the plastic?

SteveF

Hi stevef

There is no concrete or metal lintel supporting the outer skin of the house my thoughts are that these dummy lintels are infact decorative.

[SteveF]

Hi Jarvis

If you could possible expose the area without causing any damage whatsoever and post a couple of photo's then i might be able to offer some adice as to how you should move forward.

SteveF

[jarvis]

Hi Jarvis

If you could possible expose the area without causing any damage whatsoever and post a couple of photo's then i might be able to offer some adice as to how you should move forward.

SteveF

Hi stevef

don't really want to expose the area just in case i do more damage but i do have a photo taken of a neighbours property with the same problem. how do i add a photo

[SteveF]

Not sure Jarvis but will send you a PM with my e-mail'

SteveF

[jarvis]

Not sure Jarvis but will send you a PM with my e-mail'

SteveF

Hi steve
Have sent pictures
thanks
Leon

[SteveF]

Hi Leon

No sign of the e-mail....check the address you have used.

Steve

[jarvis]

Hi Leon

No sign of the e-mail....check the address you have used.

Steve

Hi Steve

Just checked and resent
Leon

[SteveF]

Hi Leon

Both mails have now arrived....must have been delayed due to file size.

You will see that directly on top of the window is the "steel structural lintel" which has a DPM draped over it to act as a cavity tray. The void left above the steel lintel i presume was filled with the GRP product which was in effect taking the load of the external skin of brickwork as you had previously mentioned.

I find this highly inappropriate and in the first instance would contact the manufacturer asking for the technical literature for these "cover lintel" and get clarification on their structural integrity.

Once armed with this info i would be pretty certain that the NHBC will have to deal with this under the years 3-10 of the warranty where cover is only for damage caused by structural problems. The very fact that these are deflecting and/or moving is damage.....

Keep me informed via this site as it could be an interesting topic for other members.

SteveF

PS. The comments made by both the NHBC and the guy from the builder regarding the fact that they "are not load bearing" is very probably correct in the sense that they should not be!