#Lintil September 9

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September 2026 several of us are going to take on the 30-Day Architectural Coach4aday Challenge each day, we will define an architectural term and provide examples of where it is located. This challenge will let observation, travel, history, and photography all intersect. For Day 9 it is a LINTIL.

The horizontal structure above a door, window, or other opening is known as a lintel. It is an important part of a post-and-lintel system, one of the most basic principles of architectural construction.

I have several examples of lintels on my wraparound porch. Below is one of them.

30-Day Architectural Challenge Guidelines

If you have ever watched Seinfeld, you know that George Constanza always wanted to pretend to be an architect.

Well, this month’s challenge let’s all of us that are not architects learn a little more about their language. To do that we have a simple challenge.

Every day we’ll learn one architectural term. Your challenge is to find an example—preferably one you’ve actually seen—and share a photograph, location and brief explanation.

Day 9-Lintil

The lintil also goes by other names commonly called a rafter, beam, or glider. In simple terms it carries the weight above the opening and transfers that load to the supporting walls or posts on either side.