Converting window into a door

[minvec]

Hi,

We have a large double window in our rumpus (~3.8m wide standard height). I want to knock this out and convert this to a large door way perhaps using bi-fold doors leading out to a decking area. Currently, there is about 2 rows of bricks which where the current windows are which will need to be knocked out if I am to put a door there.

My question is, structurally, Is it safe to knock these 2 rows of bricks out?

Thanks in advance!

[Barry_White]

If they are below the window yes. If they are above the window I would doubt it depending what is holding up the roof but there is usually a steel beam or angle holding up the bricks above a window.

[joe greiner]

Make sure there are no electric lines in the interior wall below the window. If there are, you'll need to re-route.

Joe

[Damon_11]

Hey Joe (that sounds like a song...)

I have the same situation, however knocking out 4 brick courses. Question for the forum, how would I secure an aluframe double doors to the existing double brick. Don't want to ruin the job by placing half a doz holes in the frame to secure by bolt into the bricks. I know that most windows, doors have brick ties I assume are no use to me.

Thanks

Damo

[pawnhead]

Depends on the situation.

Countersunk screws in the rebate would be covered by the door when closed. Some aluminium frames have a black plastic insert that you can install screws behind. You could install an aluminium angle as a storm mould screwed into the brickwork and into the frame with small countersunk longthreads. If you didn't want to look at the screws you could glue a small piece of timber in the corner with max bond using the 'contact' method, then glue another aluminium angle the other way around over the top of the timber. It would look like a square aluminium bead matching the door frame with no exposed fixings.
You may be able to fix some small bits of angle to the back of the frame (if there's a flange or something) before you install it, so they're sticking out ready to be chased into the brickwork a little bit. Cover them over with an angle glued on or a painted bead or something, or just render over them when you patch up the reveal. A timber reveal on the inside would cover it all if you were putting architraves instead of a rendered reveal inside. Or just fix the reveal from behind before instaling it, then screw or nail the reveal to the brickwork.
If it comes with 'brick in' ties you could take a few half bricks out and grout them back in with the ties in place.

[Barry_White]

Hey Joe (that sounds like a song...)

I have the same situation, however knocking out 4 brick courses. Question for the forum, how would I secure an aluframe double doors to the existing double brick. Don't want to ruin the job by placing half a doz holes in the frame to secure by bolt into the bricks. I know that most windows, doors have brick ties I assume are no use to me.

Thanks

Damo

Hi Damon

I haven't forgotten about the other subject will try and do it shortly.

With windows and aluminium doors there is usually a timber reveal that is attached to the flange/fin on the window or door frame especially on brick veneer houses and usually the window manufacturer installs this when they make the window or door and that is one of the things you have to specify is the depth of reveal required when you order the window/door.

When you install the window/door you fix the reveal to the internal wall of the cavity wall through the timber reveal either with nails or screws and you just punch or countersink the screws/nails below the surface and fill the holes with putty and then fix a storm mould around the outside..

If it it is a single skinned brick wall or a double brick wall you can still use a timber reveal or you can use aluminium angles as storm moulds both on the inside and the outside to fix the window/door.

If it is a stud wall with gyprock on the inside and an external cladding e.g. Fibro, weatherboards etc. you still use a timber reveal and fix the reveal to the stud wall to hold the window in place and have your external cladding go in behind the front lip of the window on install an architrave around the window/door.

[Tools]

Are they domestic or commercial aluminium windows? The fixing methods will be different depending on the type.

Tools

[GMC]

Thanks for the info guys, I am about to do this in an old weather board... never thought about the electrical wiring before I started cutting

GMC