Cost of french doors

[bluemy]

Hello,
We have just bought a house and we have no experience of the serious house renovation so if this is a silly question please forgive me.
The reception facing the garden has bay windows 2.8m wide 1.5m height.
We would like to replace the windows to the french doors to get access to the garden. It sounds easy, but we are told we need a structural engineer which costs probably £700, and the labour for £5000, it doesn't include the door price. Does this sound reasonable for the house in London?

 

[noseall]

Surely, if a bay window already exists then the structural opening is also there?

Are you making the opening wider?

£5k sounds like a lot for the job i am imagining, but then again i am not sure what it is you intend doing.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

I am not sure what it is you intend doing.

noseall is not the only one.

 

[^woody^]

Do you mean a bow window with just the frame sticking out, or an actual bay window with projecting brickwork below the frame too?

Either way you should not need an engineer just a competent builder.

£5k seems too much of a straightforward doorset, probably half that, but get several quotes

 

[bluemy]

Thank you for your replies,

>Surely, if a bay window already exists then the structural opening is also >there?

yes

>Are you making the opening wider?

The window is 1.5m height, and it is 0.7m from the ground,
we need to make the opening longer.

>Do you mean a bow window with just the frame sticking out, or an actual >bay window with projecting brickwork below the frame too?

I meant that we need to knock away the wall below the window.

 

[joe-90]

If it's just the stuff below the window it should cost around £150. It's a mornings job.

 

[catlad]

Someone I know had the same done recently, £900 doors fitted job done.