Lintel position

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6th October 2006, 09:12 AM
sleeping-wood

Lintel position

I have plans drawn up for a new dwelling with a wall/roof construction simillar to the attached photo. Essentially the wall extends up past the flat roof and is non load bearing (except for the weight of the flashing on top of the wall). The roof load is transferred to the lower wall.

My window openings are larger than the window in the photo (3.0m) and the lintel size is 170x45 lvl.
I know its standard practice to place the lintel below the head, notched into the studs but in this construction I believe it performs no function in this position. Am I correct in placing the lintel above the window.
6th October 2006, 10:32 AM
ausdesign

As you say, 'normally' the lintel would be directly under the top plate but there's no reason it can't be on top of the window (with a gap).
BTW that's a lot of lintel for the opening size !
6th October 2006, 10:41 AM
Sigidi

does anyone still notch out framing members???
6th October 2006, 10:51 AM
silentC

The lintel can go in either location but if it's not under the top plate, you need some jack studs between the lintel and the top plate. That's the normal situation for a load bearing wall. If it's not load bearing, I doubt it matters and I'm not sure you really need a lintel in that situation anyway.
6th October 2006, 07:55 PM
Shaun04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sigidi

does anyone still notch out framing members???

No you just have "secondary studs".
6th October 2006, 09:04 PM
ausdesign

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shaun04

No you just have "secondary studs".

Sorry - don't understand that.
6th October 2006, 11:23 PM
sleeping-wood

Thanks to all for the reply's.
I'm going to place the lintel above the window, "with a gap".
After thinking about it, it is the only place it can really go as there is no other support for the framing above the window if it does not go in this position.
If it were placed directly below the top plate and trimmed out down to the window there would be only a window head trimmer supporting the trimming above....not the best solution I think.
7th October 2006, 09:07 AM
Old Codger

if your rafters/cieling joists are fastened to the window wall then the edge rafter will do the job of a lintel. The other rafters have to span the whole room but the edge one is supported all the way. Therefore it can easily carry the wall over the window.
7th October 2006, 10:29 AM
pawnhead

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old Codger

if your rafters/cieling joists are fastened to the window wall then the edge rafter will do the job of a lintel. The other rafters have to span the whole room but the edge one is supported all the way. Therefore it can easily carry the wall over the window.

Agreed.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sleeping-wood

If it were placed directly below the top plate and trimmed out down to the window there would be only a window head trimmer supporting the trimming above....not the best solution I think.

Skew nails will hold it along with the cladding. There's no weight on it, but if you're worried about it, just put some hoop iron around the window trimmer and up the studs. If the end rafter is nailed to the wall then it will carry it. That LVL you're planning is a waste of timber IMO.