window to door conversion

[RKB]

Looking for some guidance here chaps...

I have a door width window that the wife wants making into a door (to the outside).
1. Does this require to be done under building control?
2. What should I be looking for in terms of existing lintels? Does each skin have it's own lintel?
3. I plan to cut the lower brickwork with a cutter and simply insert a ready made door frame from Magnet. How do I close the cavity between the outer and inner courses on the cut brickwork?

Thanks in advance ...

 

[Mr Winston]

1 make an application and speak to them about inspections (make sure you are allowed to enlarge the window to a door - it may need to be a fire door if you are close to the boundary)also check with planning dept
2 yes each skin should have support from a lintel (check that window isnt loadbearing!)
3You cound use an insulated closer e,g thermabate

 

[STENDEC]

Hi

I have just done exactly the same thing you propose.

You should find the BCO helpful and you will definitely need to submit a Building Regs Notice. (The notice should cost about £50 - £60 for the work you propose).

There should be a lintel in situ on both skins already, if a window is present? Unless the window is loadbearing - which will probably mean a bit of hassle for you and a new lintel on the inner skin. I was lucky and already had a very solid Reinforced Concrete lintel across both skins where the window was - which was long enough and sturdy enough to use above the new door frame without the CBO getting funny about it.

A stone cutter will be fine to cut the bricks with - if you have a good eye for a straight line!! I took the window out first to give me an eye for the right line to follow. I cut the bricks in the outer skin out first, and then cut the internal skin from the outside to prevent the house filling with dust so much. A bit fiddly, but well worth the extra effort - The dust would have got everywhere for weeks otherwise!

I filled the cavity between the skins with insulating foam spray - then fitted the door and lined the remaining bit of the exposed internal brickwork of the new doorway with a wooden frame - as it ties in with the rest of the wood in the house. A bit of tidying up and frame sealant to finish the job off and it was done in a day.

Good luck!

 

[RKB]

Thanks for this really great info'.