Stone Lintels

Basically stone lintels are preferred in places where stone is available in abundance. Further, stone lintels are to be adopted in places where stone masonry is used and in buildings where stone facing is used.

Stone lintels consist of slabs of stones which may be one or more pieces. Stone lintels are not recommended for the following reasons:

1. As stone is weak in tension, it can not withstand the transverse stresses.
2. Only spans up to 1 m may be tried with stone slabs. For large spans, relieving stone arches may be used.
3. It is extremely difficult to get long stone slabs without defects.