Does my garage lintel have enough support?

expert EXPERT April 26, 2007

The tables in the building code for your area, suggest that a wood lintel which spans more than 10 ft (3m) should have endbearing of 3 inches. Smaller lintels, like the one shown below, only require 1 and 1/2 inches of endbearing. The code does allow, however, for deviations from their requirements if calculations are done by a structural engineer.

Because your home is approximately 30 years old, it's important to consider how the assembly has been performing for the last three decades. If there is no crushing of the end of the lintel or the bearing surface, then it does not require correcting. Of course, providing additional bearing is as easy as tacking a 2x4, even part thereof, to the current vertical support. What seems to be more at issue with your garage is the rot of the bottom of the wood support. This is usually the result of the wood being installed at or below the garage floor, which in fact stems from the concrete footing not extending up above the slab. This is not unusual. The lintel should be temporarily braced to allow repair or replacement of the support. It is recommended that a small pad of concrete be provided to raise the end of the new or repaired support above the concrete floor level.