Adding new windows

gazfocus

I know this is a bit of a 'how long is a piece of string' question but we are looking at getting two new windows in our house (where currently it's just a brick wall)… one on the one side of the house and one on the other. Is it 'Window Fitters' that would do the knocking through of the bricks/installing lintels or do I need a builder to do that before getting the window fitters round and roughly how much could I be looking at paying for the knock through (not including the windows)?

stuart45

You need a bricklayer to make the window opening. If you are having timber windows they can be built in. If they are plastic fitted later.

Are the walls face brickwork or rendered? Cavity or solid?

What size are the windows? Ground floor or higher?

Section62

You'll also need building regs signoff and possibly planning consent, so factor that into your budget as well.

ic

I had a window installed in a new opening - the window fitter I had cut the hole, fit a lintel and boarded the reveals inside ready for plastering. As above, you need to be conscious of planning, especially if you're not fitting obscured glass and the window would be overlooking a neighbours property - certainly so upstairs.

gazfocus

Thanks. I hadn’t considered planning permission but I can’t see it being an issue. Both windows would be ground floor and the window on the one side will be facing our garden where there’s no visibility into the neighbours garden/house as they have a garage on their side of the fence. The window the other side would more than likely be obscured glass mainly because it will be looking straight at the fence which will be about 1-2m away from the window so not a great view. That window is more to bring natural light into a currently very dark room.

Building regs I was aware of but again, unsure whether that would fall under the window fitters remit or whether I’d have to apply to the council separately.

To answer the other questions, the walls are brick and presuming cavity as house is only about 26 years old. Size wise, not sure yet. The one overlooking the garden will be a typical kitchen window where the sink is. The other window will be fairly small would imagine, or may even do a long and thin run of glass higher up the wall (above head height).

Section62

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81883733#Comment_81883733

Even if you use obscured glass you would probably need to have permitted development rights to add a window. If PD rights have been removed (not uncommon with newbuilds of that era) then what you can do without full planning consent would be limited.

I wouldn't rely on a window fitter to deal with the building regs side of the job. They are likely to tell you they aren't needed, or it is covered by their FENSA registration (it isn't).

Creating a new opening is really a job for a bricklayer or builder. In particular, a long window will need a long lintel, and inserting one of those is a significant bit of structural work. You won't want that bodged.

EssexExile

We used a window company that had a sister company doing extensions, they covered everything. Another window company said they could do it all but we weren't convinced.

stuart45

There's two ways of doing the brickwork. One method is to cut the reveals out with a Stihl saw. This is a popular method nowadays as it saves doing any brickwork. The downside is that the reveals can look a bit rough unless covered by trim.

The other way is tooth out more brickwork and build up the reveals. The downside to this method is that the bricks and mortar might not be a perfect match.

gazfocus

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81883958#Comment_81883958

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81883765#Comment_81883765

The rest of the windows in our house have grey bricks above and below each window so ideally we'd like to continue this pattern with the new windows so they don't look out of place so yeah, thinking about it I'd be better off with a bricklayer.

We also have another window that was fitted by the people we bought the house off 12 years ago (they converted the garage and installed a window) but the window is the wrong shape and size so looks odd. If budget allows, I'd get this changed for a better fitting window at the same time and that would definitely need a bricklayer as the current window is tall and narrow vs the wider window that should be there.

We do have permitted development rights but I'll definitely contact the council planning dept to see if we'd need PP so thanks for bringing that up as I'd genuinely not considered that might be needed.