Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Jun 16, 2022 11:09 pm Hello I am doing an owner builder project, building a new double storey home. Downstairs is brick and upstairs is foam with the whole house rendered as one colour. I have some very large length windows (up to 6.5m in length). My engineer has advised that using an angle to support brick work above the window is not an option and wants me to weld the lintel to the structural beam above the window (which is supporting upstairs). This is a great option for me, since the structural beams above my windows are 300mm above the windows. If I weld an angle to these beams (engineer has suggested 150x100mm angles), then I will have a gap between the top of my windows and the angle. I can suggest to the engineer welding a plate between the angle and structural beam so I can extend the angle down to eliminate the gap. But this is a lot of mucking around with me and a welder! I was thinking of potentially using foam or some other light weight material to fill the gap between window and eave (which is about 300mm in height). My concern is that if I render over the brick and infill (light weight material) that it will eventually crack due to differing expansion rates. Or the renderer will probably want to put expansion joints either side of the infill. Interested to hear anyones thoughts on this and what they've done or seen on other projects? Re: Infills above windows 3Jun 17, 2022 10:15 am afpo23 Hello I am doing an owner builder project, building a new double storey home. Downstairs is brick and upstairs is foam with the whole house rendered as one colour. I have some very large length windows (up to 6.5m in length). My engineer has advised that using an angle to support brick work above the window is not an option and wants me to weld the lintel to the structural beam above the window (which is supporting upstairs). This is a great option for me, since the structural beams above my windows are 300mm above the windows. If I weld an angle to these beams (engineer has suggested 150x100mm angles), then I will have a gap between the top of my windows and the angle. I can suggest to the engineer welding a plate between the angle and structural beam so I can extend the angle down to eliminate the gap. But this is a lot of mucking around with me and a welder! I was thinking of potentially using foam or some other light weight material to fill the gap between window and eave (which is about 300mm in height). My concern is that if I render over the brick and infill (light weight material) that it will eventually crack due to differing expansion rates. Or the renderer will probably want to put expansion joints either side of the infill. Interested to hear anyones thoughts on this and what they've done or seen on other projects? afpo23 Ideally in these situations it is best to custom order your windows ( ie have the manufacturer come to site and actually measure the window opening and custom make them to fit). It it is too late and you already have the windows, the next best thing is to have the window manufacturer make metal angles which match the window frames to cover the gap. Building custom homes, we always try to have the windows custom made to avoid gaps. it takes a little longer but gives a much cleaner result cheers Simeon Architectural Homes & Duplexes - specialising in custom designing homes to your budget Get a Free Onsite Consultation Today or send a PM for information, questions or advice. Re: Infills above windows 4Jun 17, 2022 10:20 am Thanks for the replies. It's not a case of the window supplier custom making the windows to suit. The beams above the windows need to be at ceiling level as there's intersecting beams which run perpendicular to hold up the ceiling. It doesn't matter whether the windows were 2700, 2760, 2800, my ceiling is 3040. The only way to have no gap on the windows would be to have floor to ceiling windows which was cost prohibitive. I'll talk to the window manufacturer about this, but I doubt they'll supply brick supports as part of their windows. Especially over these spans as they're outside what is prescribed in the NCC. Appreciate any other suggestions anyone may have! Re: Infills above windows 5Jun 17, 2022 10:22 am afpo23 Thanks for the replies. It's not a case of the window supplier custom making the windows to suit. The beams above the windows need to be at ceiling level as there's intersecting beams which run perpendicular to hold up the ceiling. It doesn't matter whether the windows were 2700, 2760, 2800, my ceiling is 3040. The only way to have no gap on the windows would be to have floor to ceiling windows which was cost prohibitive. I'll talk to the window manufacturer about this, but I doubt they'll supply brick supports as part of their windows. Especially over these spans as they're outside what is prescribed in the NCC. Appreciate any other suggestions anyone may have! so what is covering the beams? can you frame out under the beam? do you have any photos you can post? Architectural Homes & Duplexes - specialising in custom designing homes to your budget Get a Free Onsite Consultation Today or send a PM for information, questions or advice. Re: Infills above windows 6Jun 17, 2022 2:32 pm The beams are holding up the stud walls upstairs and are at joist level, concealed in the joists. They're to support the internal walls upstairs. I will frame out under the beams, but this isn't going to support brick work above the windows. There's a 40mm cavity between the frame and bricks. 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