ᐅ Structural analysis of a sagging garage lintel

Hello,

An extension garage is attached to my older house (built in 1938). The lintel is noticeably sagging, and there is a large crack running across the entire width of the brickwork above the garage door:

The crack seems to have been sealed with silicone.

From the inside, it looks like this:

You can see a somewhat rusty steel beam and also some cracks on the sides. Above the garage door, it appears that the masonry has separated from the steel beam.

My questions are as follows:
- Does the rusty steel beam need to be replaced, or is surface rust normal?
- It seems that "only" the masonry under the steel beam is sagging. Does that need to be repaired or replaced?
- Has the structural integrity of the entire garage been compromised due to the damage?

I understand that it’s difficult to assess this from a distance, but I would appreciate any estimates or advice.

Best regards!

I would strongly recommend having the repair done.

The damage can only be assessed once the broken tiles and the rust on the steel beam have been removed.

You can try holding a straight edge under the ceiling to check if the concrete slab has sagged.

Robert89 schrieb:

- Does the rusty steel beam need to be replaced, or is it normal for it to have surface rust?

If it is only surface rust, in my opinion, it is not a concern.

- It seems that "only" the masonry below the steel beam is sagging. Does that need to be replaced?

I’m surprised the broken bricks haven’t fallen down yet.

- Is the overall structural integrity of the garage affected by the damage?

In my opinion, the concrete ceiling should hold the structure together. The broken bricks have formed an arch that is pushing outward. If these bricks are removed, the risk should be eliminated.

I know it is difficult to assess such things from a distance,

You’re right about that.

Make sure to have a professional inspect this on site. The broken bricks could fall at any time. Please secure the area and do not use the garage until it has been checked.

I want to reassure you. The steel beam is rusting, which is completely normal. It does not cause any damage. I have buildings here with vaulted ceilings ending in steel beams that were installed around the turn of the century, some even earlier, around 1880. An old mason once told me that these beams never fully rust through and always bend slightly over time.

It might not look very nice, but it still serves its purpose. And there is no need to remove the rust, as it won’t rust through for the next hundred years either.

Oh dear 🤨

You don’t need to worry about the steel lintel. Sure, it’s not exactly nice to look at, but structurally it’s probably still at around 99.5% of its original load-bearing capacity. In my opinion, the biggest danger comes from the falling bricks. Whatever method was used to attach them to the lintel, that connection is basically gone. I would act on this as soon as possible before anyone gets hurt!

I would almost say that the steel lintel is still straight, and it’s just the surrounding parts that are essentially falling off?

Judging by the condition of the anchors above the garage door frame, I would strongly recommend having them fixed as well. Is the interior of the garage very damp?
I’m concerned that at some point, the door and frame might fall inward when opened.

hanghaus2023 schrieb:

Make sure to have a professional inspect it on site. The broken bricks could fall at any time. Please secure the area. Do not use the garage anymore.

Yes, don’t let the whole thing go critical 😀. Professional... Seriously, just remove the damaged lintel, replace the facing bricks, or do something with formwork and concrete. I had a garage from a similar year of construction, where the brick lintel was supported on a wooden board. It lasted several decades.