Advise: Cutting open an exterior wall for a new door - DIY Chatroom

Turk80 · 10-31-2009, 11:17 PM

Hello,
Looking for advice help with cutting open a whole in an exterior wall in order to install a new door. My project is to close one door up and install a new one on the other side of a window.

Here are images from the inside then out.

My thoughts are either to buy/rent a AllSaw AS170

or renting a concrete chain saw like these

and just cut the opening out and take it from there.

Is there anything wrong in my thinking or advise/tips you could give? I'm guessing I need to install a lintel for something like this? And should I worry about the door being so close to the corner of the house?

Any insite would be greatly appreciated.

Maintenance 6 · 11-01-2009, 08:34 AM

I would definitely stay out of those decorative quions on the corner of the building. They'll be a real problem to to try to make a nice finished opening through.

clasact · 11-01-2009, 09:07 AM

you will need to install a lentel above the door in the brick

Thurman · 11-01-2009, 10:20 AM

I've never seen that "AllSaw" before, quite impressive it will cut most brick that way. Personally, I would not cut out the brick in a straight line, remove the mortar between bricks and remove enough brick to work through for the wall repair of the old door work, including a lintel or header. "Maintenance 6" had a good point on the quions also. Do you have enough room between the quions and the window for the new door framing? Good Luck, David

**Scuba_Dave** · 11-01-2009, 10:53 AM

I'd just pull the old door out & put a new door in
That's a lot of work to go thru to move a door

You also have to worry about all the brickwork above the new door collapsing
And you are eliminating a possible sheer wall on the ground floor by putting the door in the corner

And the light will need to be moved too to look right

12penny · 11-01-2009, 11:25 AM

turk...not really an answer to your question but.. how about bricking up the old door and put a full or 3/4 lite door where the window is. Lintel is allready there.

If you do cut another opening, I like to remove mortar and install the lintel first. Then cut the opening.