Has anyone here opened the back of a brownstone into glass doors?

Hello, My wife and I want to remove some bricks from the back wall of our garden level and replace them with four large French doors. Has anyone had experience with this? Did you file a permit (non-landmarked)? Any good contractors to recommend for this work?

castafiore002

in About Brooklyn 9 years and 7 months ago

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castafiore002 | 9 years and 7 months ago

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Thanks guys. We have hired a structural engineer who can get this through the DOB and will get a permit. But has anyone done this and have any tips for us? Was there any issues that you ran into and what should I look out for?

Augustiner | 9 years and 7 months ago

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you need a structural engineer and an expediter. You’ll also need a licensed and insured contractor, otherwise you risk your financial future. I have done the big opening, looking at townhouse listings it seems to be pretty much standard now. In my case it was part of a gut renovation.

neweco | 9 years and 7 months ago

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Sounds like a job for an architect / engineer . I wouldn’t touch this unless you have plans / drawings for the project .

vkowaayei | 9 years and 7 months ago

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You would need a steel beam that spans across the new door opening, supporting the 3 to 4 story rear brick facade. It would require hiring an architect to specify & file plan with the DOB for approval and a contractor to obtain a permit. This type of scope tends to be a bit risky but with an experienced, licensed & insured contractor its standard and should go well.

loveshouses | 9 years and 7 months ago

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Give us a call for free consultation. We can get you through this process and realize your concept into completion. We have extensive brownstone and townhouse experience. Bespoke Design Build Ltd. (732)898-0547

c_w | 9 years and 7 months ago

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Shadedavid, we’re doing this at the parlor level of a brownstone for a current project. Yes, it will need to be filed with a set of structural drawings by an engineer as the new opening needs to be framed with steel.

eman134 | 9 years and 7 months ago

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You will need to do a lot more than “remove some bricks”…You will need to install a steel load bearing beam to carry the load of the rest of the wall above the new doors.Get an architect or engineer on board before you do something dangerous