A lintel is a horizontal architectural member or steel beam support placed over a wall opening to carry the weight of the masonry placed over it. In most situations, the lintel above your windows and doors will be steel angle iron, or I beam. Either due to age or improper rust proofing or weep chord and flashing placement during installation, lintels will begin to rust. Rusting lintels can expand to become much thicker then their original size. The expansive forces of rusting steel can shift entire multistory elevations. If your lintels are currently rusting, a telltale sign of expansion is diagonal "step" pattern cracks, which can be found on either end of the window or door opening.
In majority of situations, rusting lintels must be replaced. Best Brickmasters can provide you with detailed estimates on the cost of lintel replacement. Best Brickmasters is in close contact with multiple structural engineers and can provide recommendations if you do in fact require structural plans.

A rusting lintel		A rusting lintel		Hazardous condition of the wall caused by severe corrosion of lintel		Without support of the lintel, brick wall will fall down
New facade after completion of repair work		Rusted lintel caused the brick wall above to collapse		New lintel installation in progress