locating French doors in an existing window frame.

[ForeverYoung]

I am wanting to remove the middle fixed windows and put in these French Doors.
IMG_20220506_152701.jpg


So, remove the glass, cut out the wall (probably double brick, but could be stone, house dates to 1904). Wall is hard rendered on inside and shot concrete style render outside.


So which part of the timber window frame do I remove?


The distance between the window frames where the doors are to go is 1255mm.
The recycled doorframe is 1285mm.
The window frames in that area are 45mm thick, and around 110mm deep (dressed and chamfered)


To centre the doors I would need to trim 15mm off each of the window frames that are to the left and right of the doorway.
Once I get the wall out from under I should have access to run a vertical cut. It would be old rock hard jarrah, a circular saw through there would be hard pressed to stay on track so maybe a hand saw and muscle.
-OR-
Should I remove that part of the window frame(s) and install new timber, or maybe even a new thicker door frame?


Trimming off with architraves etc should be ok I am hoping.


The door frame being recycled is the same depth as the other (main) timbers in the window frame. 120mm.


Just trying to get an idea of what I will do before I remove the glass and masonry and have a big hole for the whole world... and the possums and bandicoots.
french doors with frame.jpg IMG_20220601_115405.jpg

[rwbuild]

If my interpretation of your photos is correct I am almost certain that the stiles/mullions of the windows are the structural supports for the roof which was a fairly common technique of that era. Lift a couple roof sheets and have a look and depending what you find will have a substantial effect on how you tackle this.

[ForeverYoung]

thanks Ray, that's a very good point as the middle window stile will be removed.
The plan is to leave the window head/top rail in place, but I don't know what is above that.

In my rough assessment when buying the French Doors I guessed there would be some room between the door frame header and the window top rail so if there is a support issue I might be able to get a steel lintel in there.

The Perth heatwave is passing so I will try and have a look-see.