Back house wall-Can I make a gap in it

[GWD]

I am thinking about taking out the standard sized kitchen window out of my back wall, plus the bricks beneath it to floor level. This is to get access to the sun lounge-which in turn gives access to the garden.
Is it safe to do so?
I will be leaving the wall above the window in place, thus giving myself an arch. The wall will of course be load bearing, but I guess that the window would have compromised its strength already. I'm mainly worried about knocking out the wall below the window.

Thanks for any input.

 

[Steve]

The wall below the window serves no structural purpose. As long as you knock it out cleanly, its safe. Go down the sides with a big petrol grinder first, to make a clean edge. The wall above the window is supported by a lintel, which you should be able to see when you remove the window. You mention an arch - if its an arch there may not be a lintel.

 

[jono_h]

It is worth bearing in mind that on some older houses the window frame acted as the lintel for the external brickwork. Probably worth checking just to be doubly sure.

 

[Steve]

It is worth bearing in mind that on some older houses the window frame acted as the lintel for the external brickwork. Probably worth checking just to be doubly sure.

Or some badly built houses. The back bedroom window has 2 courses of bricks above it before the roofline starts. Guess what - no lintel. Made replacing the rotting wooden window lots of fun! Not.