Turning a window into a door
hey all, I’ve got a rear garden level kitchen, and I’m interested in taking the large window that faces the yard and turning it into a door (maybe an insulated french double door.) This would entail removing the window and knocking out the back wall below it, and installing a doorframe and door. Are there…
hey all,
I’ve got a rear garden level kitchen, and I’m interested in taking the large window that faces the yard and turning it into a door (maybe an insulated french double door.) This would entail removing the window and knocking out the back wall below it, and installing a doorframe and door. Are there any structural issues I should consider/worry about? And anyone have a rough guess what a job like that might cost? It would basically provide garden access directly off the kitchen rather through the narrow side hall.
Did you ever do the work? I’m looking to do the same with my garden apt. The door is currently at the end of our extension, but we’d like to move it to the kitchen window. Any advise on who to contact to get the work done?
Not filing a construction project is a really, really bad idea. No matter how small the project. There are three reasons:
1. It’s illegal.
2. The DoB can fine you (minimum $5000) if you are caught. With the new anonymous call to 311 to report illegal construction, the odds of getting away with it have changed.
3. It’s a breathtakingly foolish risk. You are becoming a temporary employer of a group of people, their subcontractors, to repair an asset worth (x) millions of dollars (fill in the blank with your building’s value). Anyone injured on the jobsite can sue you against the value of your building. The contractor hiring them dissolves their company, you are left as the responsible party calling your insurance company to protect you. What does your insurance company say? See point number 1 above. They walk away.
permits, schmermits.
If your house and especially if only 1 or 2 family do whatever you want.
Of course, everyone I’ve known (3) who’ve done this didn’t bother with a permit. Make sure you have nice neighbors.
I spent 3200, Elegant Entries, I believe, did job in a surprising 4 hours (not including steps.) 36″ wide. Door fits well and is well insulated, but I wish I had more glass area (door is 30) compared to the window. I’d look into “bodega doors” someone mentioned on this list, but I guess commercial doors are not energy=efficient.
Changing a wall as you’ve described requires a permit.
Hey all, thanks. It’s a 36-inch wide window, so no widening necessary, and I think a door frame can fit in the space. The top of the window frame is about 7 ft. So not the highest door, but not bad. Also it’s my house, not a co-op board, so no permissions needed there. But would I really need a permit from the city, because of “change of egress? I’d keep the other door as well (tho probably change it into more of a storage shed.) Thanks for the advice, sorry for not being more clear.
if the window is 6+ feet …
remove window, install door, install small step up inside and outside of new door. no structural work required.
doing exactly the same as part of my gut rehab… been quoted $7500. You need permits, this is a ‘change to the egress’.
True dat — I read it as removing more than the window width. Removing masonry below the window would not be structural work.