PS, the wall is 3 inches wide, and the building was put up in the
1960s......

Hi,
what reinforcing method should be used to bridge a 5.5 ft wide 4.5 ft high
opening through a ground floor, concrete block, load-bearing wall in a 2
storey building which has a concrete ceiling/floor between the two levels?
Our current builder has installed a reinforced concrete lintel turned on
its side with approximately 6 inches of lintel beyond the opening on
either side, but another builder has just told us that this is not
sufficient support and should be replaced as it is potentially dangerous.
Who do we believe?? and if this is wrong, what is best to use for the
job??
Thanks in advance
Mara