Topic starter
National Grid are kindly un-looping our supply and providing a new cutout and meter wherever we want. They've told me to create an opening of 365mm x 535mm within the outer leaf of bricks (cavity) if we want a recessed meter box. The electrician who'll be re-wiring the property after the new supply is installed said a 365mm opening won't need a lintel. The information provided by National Grid says 'lintel at builders discretion'. Presumably this is for new builds and not older properties. WWSTWD?
Posted : 31/01/2025 8:20 pm
Google self-corbeling
Plenty of older houses don't have an outer lintel above much wider windows
Posted : 31/01/2025 8:35 pm
I've been discussing lintels with our builders - they recon up to a meter without one is often fine, but not something they'd do, and whipping a single brick or block out is def fine. a block is 440mm wide so 365mm should be fine.
Posted : 31/01/2025 8:38 pm
Topic starter
Thanks Both, that correlates with what our electrician said. Better get the grinder out!
Posted : 31/01/2025 10:56 pm
I've recently moved my gas meter to an outside wall and just cut the appropriate sized hole for the recessed box without any issues.
Posted : 01/02/2025 2:20 am
If it is going to leave a brick floating above the hole then I would put in a shallow L section of galv steel.
Overkill? Yup. But I’ve had lots of work sorting out  triangles of shame above replaced windows so I’m firmly in the do it once camp
Posted : 01/02/2025 9:48 am
prettygreenparrot and prettygreenparrot reacted
