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Replacing old lintels with Galintel

Steel lintels are a vital part of any building, providing structural support, load-bearing capacity, and even aesthetic appeal to openings such as doors and windows.

The quality of the steel lintels will have a dramatic impact on a building’s structural integrity, so it is vital to ensure adequate maintenance and timely replacement.

We spoke to Billy Hooper about a project he is undertaking on New South Wales Central Coast, replacing old lintels with Galintel.

Meeting Australian Standards

Billy, a heritage brickie by trade, has spent the last twenty-odd years restoring heritage buildings. His favourite projects are those between 150 and 230 years old.

These heritage buildings were constructed before Australian building standards were introduced, so often, they need experts like Billy to bring them up to code.

“The banks and insurance companies need a level of certainty when they lend money, and the government needs to know the buildings are safe,” Billy explains.

“So I work to bring the walls to meet Australian standards.”

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The project

The current project is a little different from Billy’s usual work. The 1970s block of 37 apartments isn’t of his usual project vintage, but the building desperately needed his expertise.

“The lintels in the building were really suffering, and nearly all need to be replaced,” Billy explains.

“Generally, there are two ways of carrying out a project like this. You can replace each as they need to be replaced, returning every couple of years. Or, you can do them all at once, which gives you a rest point between maintenance.”

“Lintels are 65-year maintenance items, so replacing them all at once gives you more than enough time between replacements and peace of mind that the building is safe for the foreseeable future.”

The products

The choice of lintels is another very important consideration that can have a dramatic impact on the building’s safety. The Australian Building Codes Board outlines the National Construction Codes for lintels, which cover issues related to size, installation, weight-bearing, and corrosion protection requirements.

It is requisite that manufacturers who supply steel lintels comply with Australian standards, which involve everything from manufacturing processes and testing to the labelling of steel lintels. However, many manufacturers do not follow these requirements, putting consumers at risk.

“You can buy lintels from other countries, like Vietnam and China, but you can’t guarantee the galvanising process, even if they say they meet Australian standards,” Billy explains.

“They are also prone to bending, which means they need a lot more support, and they are not as straight.

“Galintels, on the other hand, are made in Australia and are guaranteed to meet Australian standards, which you can take to the bank, simple as that!

Australian-made lintels at Edcon Steel

The team at Edcon Steel takes Australian Standards seriously, and we only stock products that meet Australian compliance standards. We stock a wide range of lintels by Galintel®, Australia’s leading designer and manufacturer of high-quality steel lintel bars, including angle equal and unequal.

Galintel® is the expert in the development and compliance of lintel products to meet Australian compliance and building needs, and are approved by housing authorities and local government bodies in all states.

“I’ve bought all the lintels through them and got another hundred or so to go, which I’ll be getting from Edcon,” Billy says.

“They have been really reactive, which has been great,”

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