Hi,

I am renovating my basement and I have come across a cracked lintel on a brick fireplace. The lintel has a vertical split in the middle with abutment of either piece and minimal displacement. The fireplace is structurally sound . The lintel supports the front wall of the fireplace approximately 1.5 m high. The fireplace is in the basement of a four storey house and the alcove extends up into the roof.

Beneath the lintel there is a metal (L shaped in cross section) bar 2-3mm thick. It is built into the brick mortar directly beneath the lintel.

I must apologise, I am not an engineer, but a surgeon and a keen DIY enthusiast. I am wondering whether the lintel will require formal assessment by a structural engineer or whether it is obviously sound? In addition can I remove the metal lintel without a significant effect on stability?

I would be most grateful for your opinion.

Josh