When you’re working on a masonry or construction project, you have to be exact. There’s no room for error. You also need to be sure you’re working with the most reliable, long-lasting materials.

Brick lintels are horizontal beams that are placed over an opening in a wall. Not only do they allow an even distribution of weight, but they also prevent sagging and are important to the durability of the building.

Do brick lintels need to be galvanized? We’ll explore this question and provide three reasons why hot-dip galvanizing is a crucial part of any masonry or construction project.

At South Atlantic, we’ve got you covered with the best in galvanized products. We invite you to discover why we’ve been trusted by national brands for more than 50 years. It’s simple to get a no-hassle quote.

Do Brick Lintels Need to Be Galvanized? A Closer Look At the Facts

Hot-dip galvanizing is a process where steel or other metals are immersed in a bath of molten zinc. This coating protects the underlying steel, providing corrosion resistance and durability that can last for decades. This rust protection is why galvanized materials are so vital to many DOT projects.

Lintels are exposed to environmental elements, especially moisture. If they rust, it can compromise the integrity of the wall.

Three Reasons Galvanization Is Vital For Your Brick Lintels

1. Durability That Lasts

We’ve briefly discussed how galvanization provides protection from rust. The layer of zinc serves as a strong, protective barrier that coats every corner of the lintel. It’s not unusual for hot-dip galvanized steel coatings to protect against corrosion for 50 years or more. The intermetallic layers of zinc alloy have more strength than the steel by itself.

In fact, galvanized lintels are abrasion-resistant, which allows for easier handling on job sites and masonry projects. Galvanizing your brick lintels is a cost-efficient way to protect your investment.

2. Efficiency

Galvanized lintels are more cost-efficient. While the initial investment may be slightly higher, this pales in comparison to the expense of replacing non-galvanized lintels and repairing the damage caused by exposure to the elements.

According to the American Galvanizers Association, not only do galvanized lintels pay off in the long term, but their cost is usually less than 0.1% of the cost of a new home. Galvanized brick lintels also require very little maintenance, which is another way they save you money throughout the years.

3. Protecting Structural Integrity

When your lintels rust, you’re faced with more than a mere aesthetics problem. This can create a serious threat to your structure’s safety. Rusted steel expands. Therefore, it can cause the concrete and brick around the lintel to break up. As a result, your home or building becomes unstable.

If you want reliability that you can count on through the decades, galvanized brick lintels are the obvious choice for safety, structural integrity and even aesthetics.

What Best Practices Should I Use for Utilizing Brick Lintels?

There are different types of galvanizing, primarily hot-dip and electro-galvanizing.

During hot-dipped galvanizing, the steel goes through a preparation process and is dipped in a bath of molten zinc, covering every inch of the steel. Hot-dip galvanizing has a lifespan that can extend to 50 years or more.

Electro-galvanizing utilizes a plating with an electrically charged saline and zinc solution. The zinc bonds chemically to the steel. One of the main disadvantages of electro-galvanizing is that the zinc layer is very thin, and therefore, its life expectancy is not nearly that of hot-dipped galvanized material.

So do brick lintels need to be galvanized? Yes, but be sure to use hot-dip galvanizing. In fact, some building codes may require that lintels be galvanized.

South Atlantic Has You Covered With Long-Lasting Galvanized Brick Lintels

Lintels can affect the entire safety and structure of a building, so they should be protected from the elements. Failed lintels can cause sagging and even cracks in concrete. Hot-dip galvanized lintels are the right choice for products that will stand the test of time and resist corrosion in even the harshest environments.

Want to learn more about how South Atlantic Masonry Products has you covered? Contact us today and learn more about our galvanized brick lintels.

Now that we’ve established why galvanizing your brick lintels is a non-negotiable investment, it’s worth understanding exactly how that process works from start to finish. Knowing the steps behind the product gives you confidence that what you’re specifying is built to perform—and that the zinc coating protecting your structure isn’t an afterthought, but a precise, quality-controlled process.

How Are Galvanized Steel Lintels Made? The Step-by-Step Process

Galvanized steel lintels are an important component of construction projects as they provide support and stability to buildings.

They are made from steel that has been coated with a layer of zinc, which protects them from corrosion and rust. Because they are so vital, you may have wondered ‘how are galvanized steel lintels made?’

Below, we will discuss the step-by-step process of how galvanized steel lintels are made and why they are a superior choice for construction projects.

How Are Galvanized Steel Lintels Made? The Step-by-Step Process

Step 1: Manufacturing the Steel Lintel

The first step in making a galvanized steel lintel is to manufacture the steel. This involves heating and melting iron ore in a blast furnace, which is then refined into steel. Then, we roll the steel into long sheets and cut them to the desired length for the lintel.

Step 2: Galvanizing the Steel

Once the steel lintel has been manufactured, it is placed through the hot-dip galvanizing process. During this process, it is coated with a layer of zinc to protect it from corrosion and rust.

We then dip the steel lintel into a bath of molten zinc, which coats the entire surface of the steel. The zinc reacts with the iron in the steel to form a layer of zinc-iron alloy on the surface, which provides a durable and protective barrier.

Our zinc meets the stringent B6 ASTM standard.

The ASTM standards ensure that galvanized products consistently and reliably meet certain performance criteria. The standards define the minimum thickness of the zinc coating and set guidelines for surface preparation, temperature control, and other factors that can affect the quality of the coating.

This helps to ensure that galvanized products will provide effective protection against corrosion and have a long service life.

Step 3: Finishing and Quality Control

We inspect the steel lintel for quality control after galvanization. In addition, we identify and correct any defects or imperfections. We ensure the lintel is ready for installation. This may mean adding necessary features such as drill holes or flanges.

Why Galvanized Steel Lintels Are Superior

Why is galvanizing vital to the success of your project? Let’s take a look at why hot-dip galvanizing always produces a superior product.

Galvanized steel lintels offer several advantages over those that are not galvanized. These include:

Protection from Corrosion

The layer of zinc provides a protective barrier that prevents rust and corrosion from developing. Therefore, galvanized steel lintels have a longer lifespan and require less maintenance than those that are not galvanized.

More Durable

Galvanized steel lintels are more durable and can withstand harsh environments. They are resistant to damage from moisture, chemicals, and other corrosive elements, making them ideal for use in coastal or industrial areas.

More Cost-Effective

Galvanized steel lintels are a cost-effective choice for construction projects. While they may have a slightly higher upfront cost than non-galvanized lintels, their longer lifespan and reduced maintenance requirements mean that they offer a better return on investment over time.

Need Galvanized Steel Lintels? South Atlantic Has You Covered

We’ve explored ‘how are galvanized steel lintels made?’ and why they are an essential component of many construction projects. This process includes manufacturing, galvanizing, and finishing. The result is a durable and long-lasting product.

Therefore, builders choose galvanized steel lintels to ensure their projects are built to last. In addition, galvanized lintels also require minimal maintenance over time.

We have an extensive collection of lintels in stock, including eave lintels and angle iron lintels.

Experience. Dedication. Excellence: South Atlantic Is an Industry Leader

With almost 50 years of experience, we have a proven track record of providing superior customer service and high-quality galvanizing solutions. Our team of experts understands your specific needs and delivers customized solutions that meet your project requirements.

But many businesses can say that.

We take it a step further.

It’s important to stand by our product. We adhere to the highest ASTM standards with an industry-leading 25-point QA process.

We’re able to help you overcome logistical challenges. We have an extensive array of inventory in stock, which can save you time and money.

Contact us today to learn more about our services and how we can help you with your next project. With our experience, expertise, and commitment to customer satisfaction, we’ve got you covered.