Find the most relevant lintel range for your project. Tell us about the
wall, cavity, opening and loading, then compare Catnic, Stressline and
Birtley options available through Wade.
Which lintel do I need?
Lintel selection depends on more than the width of the opening. Wall
construction, cavity width, loading, bearing, thermal requirements and
the type of masonry all need to be considered.
This guide narrows down the Wade range and shows the products and
categories that are most relevant to your answers. It is a product
selection tool, not a structural engineering calculator.
Step 1 of 8
Step 1 of 8
What type of wall is the lintel going into?
Start here. Different wall constructions require different lintel
families.
Step 2 of 8
What is the cavity width?
Choose the closest cavity range. If you do not know, select "I don't
know".
Step 3 of 8
What is the clear opening?
Enter the opening width in millimetres. We will use this to calculate
an indicative lintel length based on the bearing you select.
Step 4 of 8
What duty do you need?
If you are unsure, choose "Not Sure". The final duty must be checked
against the manufacturer's loading information.
Step 5 of 8
Is thermal performance important?
Wade's cavity collection distinguishes between thermally broken and
standard lintels.
Step 6 of 8
Does the inner leaf need special consideration?
Wade's cavity catalogue includes a specific "Wide Inner Leaf" filter.
Step 7 of 8
Which manufacturer would you prefer?
Choose a preferred brand or compare the Wade alternatives.
Step 8 of 8
What matters most to you?
This affects how we rank the options. It does not override technical
suitability.
Wade lintel finder
Your recommended lintel route
Recommended Wade Route
Your Requirements
Your Best Wade Options
These are the closest matches from the Wade range based on the
information supplied.
How complete is the recommendation?
Before you order
Catnic vs Stressline vs Birtley
Brand
Wade Position
Range Strength
Typical Reason to Consider
Catnic
Premium
Broad range of cavity, box, solid-wall, single-leaf and timber
frame products.
Premium specification and extensive product choice.
Birtley
Mid Range
Selected cavity, heavy-duty, solid-wall and single-leaf range.
Established alternative to Catnic and Stressline.
Stressline
Value Focused
Broad cavity range plus box and timber-frame options.
Competitive option where the specification is suitable.
Important:
This tool is designed to help customers navigate the Wade lintel range.
It does not calculate structural loads and does not replace the
manufacturer's loading tables, installation instructions or appropriate
structural advice. The exact lintel must be checked for the actual
opening, loading, bearing, wall construction and installation conditions.
Lintel FAQs
It can narrow the Wade range substantially, but the final product
must be checked against the manufacturer's loading information.
Opening width alone is not enough to establish structural
suitability.
Cavity lintels are manufactured for specific cavity dimensions.
Wade's current catalogue separates cavity lintels into six main
cavity-width groups from 50–65mm through to 150–165mm.
Not necessarily. Wade positions Catnic as its premium range and
Stressline as a value-focused alternative. The technically correct
product should be selected for the actual application.
The selector can help identify a Wade product family that may be
relevant, but it should not be treated as a direct equivalence
calculator. The existing lintel specification and the proposed
Wade product should be compared using the relevant technical data.
Do not guess. Contact Wade with the opening size, wall construction,
cavity width and any information you have about loading above the
opening.
