Wooden lintel, replace with what?

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Evening all


Wondering if I can pick your collective brains about lintels and loading etc.

I’m intending to convert an old outbuilding/barn as a small workshop. The construction in solid 9” brick around 6m wide x 4.5m deep.
At one end, and the middle of the building there are some 500mm square brick piers, on top of which sits two large old oak beams running front to back (4.3m)

Inbetween the piers, I have a set of barn doors an opening of 2.5m... above this is an old lintel… which is a 7x3” timber beam with some 3” thick noggins and another 7x3” beam all connected with three large bolts sandwiching it all together.

About this old lintel is 800mm of 9” brickwork and then the wall plate of the roof.

I’m wondering if this timber lintel should be replaced with concrete or steel? The reason I'm asking is, as I’m intending to have a new roof (rot & worm) and hopefully some velux windows.


Sorry for the long post!
 
If the timber is in good condition, likewise for the wall above it, then there is no reason to change it.

Otherwise fit a steel lintel if you dont want to be looking at a concrete one.
 
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