Reinforcing offset?

[peroande]

On the ground floor of my two-story house, I plan to replace a window, H 140cm, W 130 cm. When I removed the interior wall covering (masonite), I noticed that the lintel above the window has bent down about 5mm in the middle. It hasn't bent all the way down to the window frame. It seems to have happened when the house was built, as the trim and such were adapted to this fact. The lintel doesn't seem to have been made with a proper beam, which might explain the situation.



Should I leave this as is, or should I replace it with a beam?

 

[bossespecial]

If the lintel is load-bearing, I would definitely install a proper beam when everything is already opened up.

 

[peroande]

Well, I might do it. The question is, which dimension?

 

[Violina]

I don't think the trim and such "were adapted" for this from the beginning... the wood has probably simply shaped itself as the house moved.

 

[SvanteC]

Yes, I should probably do that. The question is, what dimension?

You should ask an engineer who can calculate loads, etc. It's not something you can guess.