Opening the rear wall for a deck
We are planning to buy our first house (3-story, 16.6ft wide brick) and – as part of the renovations – install a rear deck. Our idea is to open up the rear wall of the parlor floor to bring light in and give the kitchen an airy feel. The opening would be at least as…
We are planning to buy our first house (3-story, 16.6ft wide brick) and – as part of the renovations – install a rear deck.
Our idea is to open up the rear wall of the parlor floor to bring light in and give the kitchen an airy feel. The opening would be at least as large as required to fully include both windows, about 11×8 ft (see red lines in the picture). Ideally, all the way up to the ceiling. We would then put in some industrial style (metal+glass) folding doors that we saw at a cocktail bar in red hook and fell in love with. Then install a 16x7ft deck (iron frame, non-combustible wood paneling).
Now my question: If you have done similar before (opening up a wall and install a deck), how much did it cost you to do all the work (take out the wall, install the beam, clean up the masonry, install the doors, etc)? Any complications or issues, words of advice?
As you can see, the heating pipes and radiator are in the way as well and would have to be moved into the corner (we are re-doing the floors in this and the upper floor anyway).
We are on a tight budget and – since we have never owned a house before – need a bit of a reality shock in terms of prices and complications. To better understand what we get ourselves into when buying this house.
Thanks a lot in advance for your advice!
My wife and I opened our dining room to our deck about 4 years ago. No architect. Our very good contractor did everything. He knocked out the two windows and put in a steel beam.
My advice: forget the floor-to-ceiling folding doors and use Andersen sliding doors with a matching transom. You’ll get the same result with a lot less trouble and tons of natural light. Go on the Andersen website for the specs. They have a good variety of sizes and styles. They all come with sliding screens (a must in Brooklyn). We got the better grade (wood inside, vinyl outside), 72″ x 80″ with the 12″ transom. We bought everything at Window World(?)on the corner of 60th Street and 8th Ave. Very good price.
Think about privacy inside (drapes, curtains, shades, etc.) and security outside (roll-down vinyl shutters or hurricane-type storm-shutters). You’ll need a plumber to move the radiator to one side or both sides. Finally, when you lose the windows, give some thought to where you will install an air conditioner in the future.
We had a deck behind our house when we moved in and it showed on our survey. We replaced the old deck, but did it without an architect because it a simple deck and legally grandfathered in. The neighbors were impressed and never complained. You might want to replace the concrete pavement behind your house before you build the deck.
Good luck.
It is totally do-able for under 8,000. Look for Iron deck w Ipe Wood. Buy the Ipe yourselves and find someone to install. Joe at Etna Ironworks does great ironwork. Reasonably price. Doors can be expensive – who will supply yours ?
It is totally do-able for under 8,000. Look for Iron deck w Ipe Wood. By the Ipe yourselves and find someone to install. Joe at Etna Ironworks does great ironwork. Reasonably price. Doors can be expensive – who will supply yours ?
I think you should paint the wall like a giant Darth Vader mask with the windows as eyes and the radiator as his mouth.
Making a large opening is definitely more expensive and requires some engineering. On our house, we turned both windows into doors, which gives you a lot more light and also keeps the symmetry of the room. This would be a more affordable alternative that will still look really nice–especially with two matching French doors, for example.
Regarding the deck, that’s a complex story by itself with one million rules around it (the a separate forum discussions covering only that). But from what I learned, a deck has to be constructed of non-combustible material if it doesn’t leave a certain gap to the left and right property line or if it extends into a required yard (30ft where I live). House is narrow and yard is not much more than 30-35ft, so I will most likely fall under both rules.
Wow… this is gonna involve some major structural stuff. Steel beams and mechanical engineers/architects. Not for the deck, that’s easy. For the opening.
Also, is it really necessary fire code that decks have to be built out of metal? Or is was it just a law passed to appease the iron worker lobby?
I did something similar to what Johhny suggests. Changed the window into a door and build a deck outside. Cost was 7k. That also included closing up another door tho… And also this was permitted as part of a gut reno. I had shown this in my reno blog @
http://www.pbase.com/dentontay/doors
Your parlour floor is on the second floor? The image looks like this is not ground level.
If so, we have a back deck on our second floor, and so does our neighbour. Ours was done by taking out a window and making a door. we also have a roof over the entire thing and iron rails and beams. We find that we really need this in the summer. We will also in the future be enclosing the space below into another summer living area, with screens and possibly glass inserts for cooler weather, extending our living space quite a bit. It was a good plan to invest in the second floor deck so we could eventually have two spaces, rather than the other way around.
Our neighbour’s was done by making the window higher and attaching the deck. He has to step up (twice) to get out to his deck. His is open, with no covering, and all wood (cedar, I believe). After years, he is talking about getting an awning.
You will actually want some wall space to accomodate furniture… so leave that brick in place! After all, you want to be facing/looking at the back yard, not the house.
And you won’t compromise any structual walls. You can widen the window. Trust me, you will no want this to be all glass! it starts to look way too condo on Miami Beach, and nobody will be fooled into thinking it is all one room if it is glass.
I can send you an image of ours if you need inspiration. Our is inspired from one my husband saw in France.
oh, and do it by the book. You want it nice and safe… and don’t want to have to tear it our and pay a fine, do you?