I am installing a new window in the basement. The window is 37" high by 45"long. Can I getv away with using 4" angled iron above the window on both sides. Or must I install a header? Thanks

What is thickness of angle iron?

Chuck

Which side of the basement is the window in an end wall ?

How many floors above it?

Code is all windows must have a header. Normally that's a concrete lintels or doubled up 2by 8s or 10s or 12s

Lintels are made of steel angle iron and used to transfer down weight to sides of opening.

Chuck

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Lintels are made of steel angle iron and used to transfer down weight to sides of opening

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Angel irons are not considered lintels.

Actually the sense of the word lintel"is a "block" object over and opening. If you call the masonry supply house and order a lintel you won't get an angle iron. You will get a concrete lintel.

A steel beam can be considered a "lintel" as the word is used, has to be a block shape which an angel iron is not.

Angel irons are more designed for lighter loads such as brick veneer over a window opening. It only carry's the brick above it. And that load is only in a step arch or if it terminates towards a soffit that small area in height is a very light load.

Angel irons are rarely used for any structural weight such as a house header. The ones you may see commercially are welded to an I beam to make more ledge to carry a heaver load.

Hi, I thinking 1/4 in. thickness. Its on an back wall. Only one floor above basement. There would be two blocks above the window. Not including a header. If I can't use angle iron I would use 2 by 8"s.

By the book you use a concrete lintel to mortar onto the block jambs. Lumber is used at times but that should be integrated into a wood jamb rough opening that added to the block. It's a block frame with a wood frame in and wood header nailed to jack/trimmer studs and to top plate so it just doesn't float there. A means to attach it. Personally I use concrete lintels when all masonry is involved. It's a good marriage of material

Whether you use a wood header or a concrete lintel angle iron is not used here at all.
magpower You need to use a concrete lintel if there is block above it. Think of the outside finish also. DIYers seem to always shy away from the masonry end because it's a whole different animal and Lintels are more of a block plant/masonry supply house. Need to be dead on also can't power plane block to well.

The outside has sideing on it. I thought it would be easier for me to use wood. When house was built they used a wood header above the double doors in the basement. If I use a concrete lintel where would get one and do they cut them to size. Thanks

You would get lintels at a block plant or a masonry supply house. They come in many lengths and two different thickness. 4x8x? Or 6x8x? It takes two to set as a header. To cut them a masonry carborundum blade in a circ saw will do the trick.

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when house was built they used a wood header above the double doors in the basement

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Is this an older house? The reason I stress to use concrete lintels instead of wood when it comes to block is the wood shrinks over time and sinks/and or becomes loose because it just sits there and can't be nailed in and mortared in doesn't' work