hi,
i am in a 1900's terraced house, divided in two maisonettes. mine is
the lower one, ground & basement floors. i am doing some work as it
was neglected and damp in the basement was left on its own.

there are two steps to access the house from the pavement, and under
this steps there is a coal hole. this can be access from the main
bedroom through a small door. water is filtering down the pavement and
the whole area is damp. there used to be a timber lintel supporting
the step above, but it just crumbled down, it was like a big sponge.

i cleared the space where the lintel was and have this measurements
for a new lintel,

length x width x height
1500 x 240 x 120 (mm)

this is the space left by the timber lintel, and i was unable to find
a new lintel of this size. the closest one is, 1500 x 215 x 100, which
seems a proper match.

i am a bit confused as the type of lintel i should use. i would like
to avoid timber as damp in that area will always appear. (got the
council for the loose pavement slabs, they came, it is better now, but
still water finds its way through.) the ones i've discovered so far
are concrete and steel lintels.

i read that concrete lintels need at least a number of brick courses
on top of them to perform properly. as it is just the step above it,
there must only be one or two courses on top of it.

..would a concrete lintel be alright as it is just a step and shouldn't
have to deal with more than, maybe, two big humans on top?

..if steel lintels are the way to go, are these lintels all rust proof,
or should i look for stainless steel only?

i'd appreciate any help/advice.

also, any good pointers as where to get the lintel from?


thanks and regards,
mat.