Inserting patio (sliding or hinged) door into brick veneer house

[GordonM]

Hi all

I want to put a door ( either 2 leaf hinged 620mm doors or similar sized sliding) into the brick veneer exterior of my house. The brickwork is not load-bearing as there is a cape-cod extension above and the area where I want to put the door corresponds to where the stairs are (see drawing). The drawings suggest the use of a 200PFC lintel to be inserted between the top and bottom plate of a timber stud.

Can someone provide an indication of the steps I should take during this process (ie. remove brickwork first or construct double stud with top and bottom plate and lintel) and secondly, as there are only 2 courses of brickwork above where I want to make a hole, what i would fill in this hole with, or whether I would replace the brickwork? Also, what length of lintel to use?

Thanks

Gordon

[Metung]

Gordon.
I'll get the ball rolling by putting in my twopence worth of unprofessional advice in that I have no qualifications that give credibility to what I say but that has never stopped me in the past from espousing on any topic you care to name.

Firstly, the brickwork probably isn't a problem because if your house is brick veneer then all the loads are supported by the timber framing so I suspect you could knock a sizeable hole in the wall without creating too many problems. It is the timber framing that you have to worry about and with an upstairs extension, it all becomes doubly complicated.

I'm an owner/builder who doesn't mind having a go but this looks a bit scary to me. I would definetly be seeking some professional advice before I had a go at it myself. Sorry I can't be a bit more helpful.

[GordonM]

Thanks for that Metung

I know it seems a bit scary but I have given it considerable thought, not that that is nuch of a guarantee of anything. In this case, there are no first floor joists to worry about as the door will be directly below the stairs. However, it will need to be double studded.

I was thinking that I could sit the lintel (200 PFC) on a shorthened stud and below the header, though i am unsure if this is the place for it. Does it perhaps have to sit elsewhere?

I have consulted the auricle that is the Code and it is not overly helpful in that matter. Though it is possible that I am looking in the wrong place. Any help gratefully received.

This project will take a while due to the lack of availability of certifiers who will work with owner builders, so i may have to get into another project while I am waiting.

Gordon