Lintels are architectural features that cover openings in buildings, such as doors and windows. They can be structural or decorative and vary in shape and size. In the West, they are usually load-bearing, while in the East they are often ornamental. Some lintels are hidden, while others are elaborately carved and decorated. Builders must determine if a lintel is load-bearing before making any modifications.
A lintel is a structural or decorative architectural feature that covers an opening, such as a door or window. They are used in building styles around the world and throughout history. In the West, they are usually structural in nature, while in Eastern architecture they are often ornamental, due to differences in building style and technique in these regions. They can vary widely in shape and size, depending on the structure and builder.
In the West, lintels began to appear in architecture in a widespread fashion during the Classical period, where they were part of a building technique known as post and lintel, in which supporting posts hold them above openings. The lintel acts as a load-bearing structural member, supporting and distributing weight over the opening. Examples also predate the Classical period and can be seen in many structures built in Europe by early humans.
In the Orient and in regions such as South America, these features had a more decorative function. The elaborately carved ones were used to add ornamentation to buildings, with the weight being supported and distributed in other ways. They were sometimes colored with dyes and varnishes as well as being gold-leafed and otherwise decorated, just as their counterparts were in the West. People are often surprised to learn that classical Western architecture was actually painted colorfully at the time it was created, even though today it is usually left blank and people now associate classical Western architecture with completely white.
In some structures invisible lintels are used. These are hidden behind trim and ornaments, supporting the weight without being seen. They are often made from sturdy metals that can be bent to create arched or curved openings if desired. When one is visible, it is sometimes carved and decorated, and in other cases it may be left plain. The aesthetics of the structure is the determining factor in deciding whether it should be visible or not and what kind of decorations should be present.
When working on a structure with lintels, it is important for a builder to find out whether or not they are load bearing. If they are, they need to be carefully removed and support scaffolding may need to be built to prevent accidents. If they are decorative, they can be safely removed and modified or replaced without the need for any further precautions. An engineer or architect can assess a structure to identify safety-bearing structural members before work begins.
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