Create new window opening in porch, single brick

Alias_Omega

were in the market to having this done, i assume its a simple job as its a single storey porch, flat roof. No weigh in it. Walls are not load bearing for the roof as the beams run the other way.

So should be a simple cut out and install.

Were looking for someone to come do it, ie a company so no worries of myself doing it.

Before we start making calls, was trying to understand if i needed planning permission as its a new opening.

Can the window support the weight of the 3 rows of bricks above.?

Maybe a simple 1 opening, 600mm wide window. Nothing special. Just White UPVC.

Alias

Atelier

Ring up the planning and building regulations departments (2 seperate departments where I live) at your local council offices for their advice.

Last year I put 2 new window openings into the side elevations of ourt house and they did not require planning permission but they did need building regs approval.

Alias_Omega wrote: »

were in the market to having this done, i assume its a simple job as its a single storey porch, flat roof. No weigh in it. Walls are not load bearing for the roof as the beams run the other way.

So should be a simple cut out and install.

Were looking for someone to come do it, ie a company so no worries of myself doing it.

Before we start making calls, was trying to understand if i needed planning permission as its a new opening.

Can the window support the weight of the 3 rows of bricks above.?

Maybe a simple 1 opening, 600mm wide window. Nothing special. Just White UPVC.

Alias

Alias_Omega

Atelier wrote: »

Ring up the planning and building regulations departments (2 seperate departments where I live) at your local council offices for their advice.

Last year I put 2 new window openings into the side elevations of ourt house and they did not require planning permission but they did need building regs approval.

Spoke to them, said to send in a sketch of our house, what we plan to do and they will reply to us saying if we needed to have planning permission in writing.

He said we should not need it.

Then he said about the building regulations, said i need to apply with them for the work, and its up to me to ensure its all good, not the builder.

Harder than we thinks..

Sailor_Sam

I'm not a builder, but if i was doing it in my own house i'd put some sort of simple lintel in before knocking all the bricks away, even if it were only a 4x2 pce of timber. The building Regs may require you to have more.

AdrianW2

I'd have thought a FENSA registered window installer would know what they can and can't self-certify for building regulation purposes. I'd be tempted to talk to a few installers before getting too wound up about building regs.

Alias_Omega

Progress,

Ive spoken with the planning guy earlier, and he said to write in.

Ive then been onto the building control people, and the porch is exempt. Its a single brick built porch,with flat roof. With an external UPVC door, as you enter the porch there is no windows, but a gas meter. You then turn right and enter the house through another 2" external wooden door. The whole size is about 5sq mtrs.

She is going to send me a form to fill in, something about 'Do i need building regs?' or something just for paperwork purposes.

Dont worry, i wont be doing the work myself. The window (FENSA) guy who quoted us for the french doors to the back is the guy who will be doing the work.

Kiran

As a rule, in a soundly constructed wall, you can make a structural opening even in a load bearing wall of 600mm without support. The advantage to putting in a simple lintel is that it ensures that there is no chance of blockwork sagging while you fit the window frame (which leads to the need to repoint at a later date). On the matter of a lintel, if the LABC require it (not sure they apply to porches and outbuildings), get a concrete one as they only cost a few pounds at a builders merchant.