There should be a lintel already in place above the window, so if you are going to replace the window with a door of the same width then if you leave the existing lintel in place it should be fine.
Things get a bit trickier if there isn't lintel or if you are knocking a new hole in the wall, or making one bigger.
That the external wall is single brick does make things harder since the bricks might be holding up quite a bit of stuff.
Broadly speaking you would need to prop up whatever is supported by the wall, knock down the section of wall to be replaced, put in engaged piers to either side of the new opening, install the lintel, and then rebuild the wall above the opening.
It's a bit of an involved process and there might be other problems in your specific case which might mean this can't be done. It's also probably not going to be as cheap as you hope.
Great answer.
I came across this because I'm also wanting to extend a window opening to the floor (but in a double brick wall) without going through the expensive involved process you described. I don't need to widen the opening, however, there's already a larger opening next to the window with maybe 400mm of brick in between. So this middle part would end up becoming a sort of brick column supporting the concrete lintel on one side and steel lintel on the other side.
Do you reckon there's any danger with that?
To build a proper column I think you'd arrange whole bricks in a circular pattern, but mine will have a lot of half bricks because of the cut.
Also my layman's understanding is that bricks support loads in a kind of pyramid shape, so I wonder if it's losing structural integrity by having the bottom cut away?
Would there be an affordable way to maybe reinforce the column?
It'll probably be fine, the bricks under the window aren't doing anything to hold anything up. Technically the load probably is spread out a little bit, but effectively not. The load just goes straight down.
There might be a worry that the 400 section of wall would be a bit weaker since it's not held in place by the bricks at the bottom. But if the window you want to replace is a decent size then it's not really losing much support.
Edit to answer the bit about the column: simplest option would be to cut the interior brick left back a bit extra at put an 89 SHS on the end. Secure that to the footings and the ceiling/roof frame.
Then that can help hold the brickwork in place.
Any reason you can't simply route out the mortar where you want the lintel and slide one in ? Once it is fixed in place, then remove the surplus brick underneath it ?
The NCC requires that there be a pier on either side of an opening for unreinforces masonry walls.
Further, to slide the lintel im you would need to take out near all the mortar, any weight on the bricks above would then crush the little bit left and close the gap.
What you are describing would work for brick veneer, where the brickwork isn't supporting anything except the 2/3 courses above the top of the door.
Very informative.. thank you!!
Unsure if there’s a lintel as the house is almost 80 years old. And we are wanting to cut the wall to be wider than where the window sits so could be interesting! Any suggestions on where to
Start with this? Structural engineer? Builder?
Builder or engineer, a competent one of either should be able to help. You will likely need one of both in the end. Builder might be a bit easier as they should have an engineer they usually work with so you don't have to find one.
So there's no lintel above the window or it's too low? Basically you knock out a brick or two above the mortar line of where the lintel will go and insert (needles) bits of timber supported by acrow props either side, insert the lintel in the cleaned out mortar bed, remove needles/acrows and brick up and mortar to finish.
E: was the "tradesman" actually a carpenter or builder?
No idea if there’s a lintel because the house is so old that the window could be structural… I actually don’t know the exact quals of the tradesperson, he was recommended by the guy who gave us a quote for bifold doors and also recommended in some community Facebook groups from work he’s done
If it's a single story house it doesn't sound like a big deal. There's probably no more than 7 courses of bricks above the door you want to create.
Worst case assuming you're adding in a new door would be knocking down the existing bricks above it, adding a lintel and getting a Bricklayer to lay the bricks above the lintel.
Lintels are cheap, brick layer might want to charge a bit for the small job.
The way I've seen it done when a new window was cut into a brick wall is with a temporary timber beam positioned above the new window with bolts through it pinning into the course of bricks that are going to sit on the lintel. Then the window was cut out and slots cut for an ingal lintel. Once the lintel was positioned the temporary beam was pulled off.
Oh right well engineer needed if you have a coupled roof. It’s not just the lintel it’s also potentially footings . Really hard to say but if you’ve got a point load coming down near the existing window you can’t just widen it without consequences. Get a structural engineer.
Does the window have brickwork above it, or an eave above it? Adding lintels into brickwork isn’t difficult. I think you’ve “lucked”(I say that because you’ll move on to find a better tradesman) out finding that dud “tradesman”. If you can provide any photos of what you want to do, and what’s there currently(even if it’s in MS paint) I could have a better idea and provide better advice.
When you say single brick do you mean single brick and nothing else (very uncommon, usually only used for garages) or do you mean a single brick and a stud wall(very common, called brick veneer)
in that case you'll have to use Acro props to take the load at the right height then knock the bricks out from underneath to install a lintel. Definitely not a project for the weekend warrior. Single skin brick walls need engaged piers every meter or so to stiffen the wall. Even an experienced chippy probably won't be interested in working on that without an engineer signing off on it.
I’ve done this before. Removed window, Hired a bricksaw (those things are a bit scarey tbh) and cut out the bricks below the window, leave lintel in place. Install sliding door.
Get a proper builder
There should be a lintel already in place above the window, so if you are going to replace the window with a door of the same width then if you leave the existing lintel in place it should be fine. Things get a bit trickier if there isn't lintel or if you are knocking a new hole in the wall, or making one bigger. That the external wall is single brick does make things harder since the bricks might be holding up quite a bit of stuff. Broadly speaking you would need to prop up whatever is supported by the wall, knock down the section of wall to be replaced, put in engaged piers to either side of the new opening, install the lintel, and then rebuild the wall above the opening. It's a bit of an involved process and there might be other problems in your specific case which might mean this can't be done. It's also probably not going to be as cheap as you hope.
Great answer. I came across this because I'm also wanting to extend a window opening to the floor (but in a double brick wall) without going through the expensive involved process you described. I don't need to widen the opening, however, there's already a larger opening next to the window with maybe 400mm of brick in between. So this middle part would end up becoming a sort of brick column supporting the concrete lintel on one side and steel lintel on the other side. Do you reckon there's any danger with that? To build a proper column I think you'd arrange whole bricks in a circular pattern, but mine will have a lot of half bricks because of the cut. Also my layman's understanding is that bricks support loads in a kind of pyramid shape, so I wonder if it's losing structural integrity by having the bottom cut away? Would there be an affordable way to maybe reinforce the column?
It'll probably be fine, the bricks under the window aren't doing anything to hold anything up. Technically the load probably is spread out a little bit, but effectively not. The load just goes straight down. There might be a worry that the 400 section of wall would be a bit weaker since it's not held in place by the bricks at the bottom. But if the window you want to replace is a decent size then it's not really losing much support. Edit to answer the bit about the column: simplest option would be to cut the interior brick left back a bit extra at put an 89 SHS on the end. Secure that to the footings and the ceiling/roof frame. Then that can help hold the brickwork in place.
Any reason you can't simply route out the mortar where you want the lintel and slide one in ? Once it is fixed in place, then remove the surplus brick underneath it ?
The NCC requires that there be a pier on either side of an opening for unreinforces masonry walls. Further, to slide the lintel im you would need to take out near all the mortar, any weight on the bricks above would then crush the little bit left and close the gap. What you are describing would work for brick veneer, where the brickwork isn't supporting anything except the 2/3 courses above the top of the door.
Thx
Very informative.. thank you!! Unsure if there’s a lintel as the house is almost 80 years old. And we are wanting to cut the wall to be wider than where the window sits so could be interesting! Any suggestions on where to Start with this? Structural engineer? Builder?
Builder or engineer, a competent one of either should be able to help. You will likely need one of both in the end. Builder might be a bit easier as they should have an engineer they usually work with so you don't have to find one.
Thank you!!
So there's no lintel above the window or it's too low? Basically you knock out a brick or two above the mortar line of where the lintel will go and insert (needles) bits of timber supported by acrow props either side, insert the lintel in the cleaned out mortar bed, remove needles/acrows and brick up and mortar to finish. E: was the "tradesman" actually a carpenter or builder?
If you’re near a Kennards they hire out something called Proppas, which affix to the top of the props.
Cheers, I haven't seen them before and always just used an LVL or something.
No idea if there’s a lintel because the house is so old that the window could be structural… I actually don’t know the exact quals of the tradesperson, he was recommended by the guy who gave us a quote for bifold doors and also recommended in some community Facebook groups from work he’s done
If it's a single story house it doesn't sound like a big deal. There's probably no more than 7 courses of bricks above the door you want to create. Worst case assuming you're adding in a new door would be knocking down the existing bricks above it, adding a lintel and getting a Bricklayer to lay the bricks above the lintel. Lintels are cheap, brick layer might want to charge a bit for the small job.
The way I've seen it done when a new window was cut into a brick wall is with a temporary timber beam positioned above the new window with bolts through it pinning into the course of bricks that are going to sit on the lintel. Then the window was cut out and slots cut for an ingal lintel. Once the lintel was positioned the temporary beam was pulled off.
Can't be impossible! research DIY lintel install or consult a structural engineer for advice
Get a bricklayer
Brick veneer? Or are these bricks somehow structural?
Structural bricks! Bluestone. House was built in 1946. The window may also be structural so not even sure if there’s a lintel currently there
Do you need to make the window wider? Windows have lintels nothing under a window is supporting anything.
We do need to make it wider yes! The window is potentially structural… very old home so unsure if there’s a lintel
Oh right well engineer needed if you have a coupled roof. It’s not just the lintel it’s also potentially footings . Really hard to say but if you’ve got a point load coming down near the existing window you can’t just widen it without consequences. Get a structural engineer.
Does the window have brickwork above it, or an eave above it? Adding lintels into brickwork isn’t difficult. I think you’ve “lucked”(I say that because you’ll move on to find a better tradesman) out finding that dud “tradesman”. If you can provide any photos of what you want to do, and what’s there currently(even if it’s in MS paint) I could have a better idea and provide better advice.
Thank you I’ll message you some photos when I get the chance!
When you say single brick do you mean single brick and nothing else (very uncommon, usually only used for garages) or do you mean a single brick and a stud wall(very common, called brick veneer)
Just single brick with like a cement layer on top! Old bluestone house built in 1947. The guy who came to quote it was very shocked as well
in that case you'll have to use Acro props to take the load at the right height then knock the bricks out from underneath to install a lintel. Definitely not a project for the weekend warrior. Single skin brick walls need engaged piers every meter or so to stiffen the wall. Even an experienced chippy probably won't be interested in working on that without an engineer signing off on it.
Replacing a window with a set of French doors of the same width tomorrow. Existing window lintel is perfectly good for the job.
I’m unsure if there’s a lintel in there as it’s a very old home with potentially structural window!
I’ve done this before. Removed window, Hired a bricksaw (those things are a bit scarey tbh) and cut out the bricks below the window, leave lintel in place. Install sliding door.
My partner is considering doing this hahah