Chicagoland Masonry & Concrete
Lintel Repair & Lintel Replacement in Chicagoland
Rusted steel lintels above windows and doors expand as they corrode, cracking, bowing, and eventually destabilizing the masonry above. We replace them before they become structural emergencies.
Rusted Lintels Are One of Chicagoland's Most Common Masonry Problems
Virtually every pre-1970 brick home in the Chicagoland area, from the bungalows and two-flats of Oak Park to the Tudors of Hinsdale and the colonials of Elmhurst, uses embedded steel angle irons (lintels) to carry the masonry over windows and door openings. These steel elements are embedded directly in the masonry, fully exposed to moisture infiltration through deteriorated mortar above. As they rust, they expand, generating enormous force against the surrounding masonry. The result is a very recognizable cracking pattern: diagonal cracks radiating upward from window and door corners, combined with brick courses bowing outward just above the opening.
Diagonal Cracks Above Windows
Diagonal cracks radiating from the upper corners of windows and doors are the signature failure pattern of corroding lintels, not general settlement.
Brick Bowing Above Openings
Courses of brick immediately above window or door openings that bow outward from the wall plane have typically lost their bond to the underlying lintel.
Rust Staining on Brick Faces
Rust bleeding from the lintel through mortar joints or brick faces is visual confirmation of active corrosion and pending structural compromise.
Open Mortar Joints Above Lintels
Mortar joints directly above lintel bearing points open as the expanding lintel lifts the surrounding masonry, creating direct water infiltration paths.
Progressive Window Cracking
Lintel failure is progressive, the longer replacement is deferred, the more masonry above is displaced, the more expensive the full repair scope becomes.
What We Do & How We Do It
Lintel Condition Assessment
We assess lintel condition, bearing length, remaining structural capacity, and extent of surrounding masonry displacement before developing the repair scope.
Masonry Removal & Shoring
Masonry above the lintel is carefully removed in a controlled manner, with temporary shoring of the course above the lintel to protect structural continuity during replacement.
New Lintel Installation
New properly-sized steel angle lintels with adequate bearing length are installed with proper bearing pads and clearance for thermal movement.
Masonry Reset & Repointing
Removed brick is reset in the original pattern using new mortar. All joints in the immediate area are tuckpointed to original specification.
Crack Repair
Diagonal cracks caused by the lintel failure are routed, filled, and tuckpointed. In most cases this fully restores the appearance of the affected area.
Address Lintel Failure Early
A lintel replacement at early-stage deterioration, before the surrounding masonry is significantly displaced, involves removing and resetting perhaps one or two courses of brick above the opening. Deferred to the point where multiple courses are bowing outward and the full arch geometry above the window is disrupted, the scope triples. Homeowners in Hinsdale, Oak Park, and Elmhurst who address lintel failures promptly limit cost exposure and prevent the cascading water damage that failed lintels introduce into the wall assembly.
Why Chicagoland Masonry & Concrete
With over 50 years of combined experience, we have been repairing and restoring masonry and concrete across Chicagoland. We do not sub out work, we do not cut corners on mortar specification, and we do not recommend more than what your project actually needs.
Get a Free EstimateServing Chicagoland homeowners with 50+ years combined experience
Crew-owner involvement on every project, no subcontractors
Detailed written estimates with clear scope and pricing
All work warrantied against defects in materials and workmanship
Fully licensed, bonded, and insured in Illinois
We work with historic brick and non-standard mortar mixes
Serving Chicagoland's Premier Communities
We serve homeowners and property managers throughout the Chicago metropolitan area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Local SEO
Areas We Serve
Related Services
Free Estimates, No Obligation
Ready to Get Started?
Call us or submit a project request online. We provide written estimates with clear scope and pricing across all of Chicagoland.