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Renovating Before & After Exteriors

Opening a new exterior doorway in an old stone house

4 years ago

Has anyone had experience with or have advice about breaking through a stone wall to install a new doorway or window? We'd like to open a doorway for French Windows into the garden on the ground floor and a balcony on the top floor.

Before:

View from top floor:

Similar house down the street with top floor balcony:

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Comments (2)

PRO
User
4 years ago
As building practices are completely different in different countries, i'd ask a local builder.

I'm sure it's completely possible, but they will have their own way of doing things. It will entirely depend on how it's been constructed.
PRO
Brandler London
4 years ago
I am curious to know whether you had a structural survey carried out when you purchased this property? The reason that I ask is that you have what appears to be a large structural crack from the ground to the RHS of the first floor window and from the top LHS of the first floor window to the bottom LHS of the upper window.

Technically speaking it should not be a problem to install the patio windows that you are looking for, however it will need preferably a steel section at the top of the opening. Dependent upon the size of the doors that you require, this structural steel section could be from side wall to side wall.

All of this is very dependent upon the quality of this wall, which may need to be stabilised if the cracks are structural.
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Hi there, It's always difficult working out the best place for a fireplace and indeed a tv but what I would ask is why have you opted for an L-Shaped extension? Have you got lots of constraints on the land or the garden? Long and thin extensions can always be a problem as they lack the width to create nice spaces without bottle necks or furniture blocking circulation and people movement. One of the things you will have to think about is the venting or flue / chimney and then there's the regulations about the stove being a minimum distance away from combustible materials. It would be nice to be able to look at the burner while you're facing into the garden so maybe a wall on the patio side to break up the glass doors and then add more light in from above to make it a little cosier. Sometimes too much glass can feel / look cold. The TV is always a problem but I suggest again to possible mount it on a wall but remember if you have the screen facing all that glass you will get reflection problems. Maybe you need to make a feature wall out of slate or stone that would have the wood burning stove against it and the TV offset a little on the same wall. Then have your glass doors either side so when you're sat on your sofa you can see the garden / patio all while sat in front of your stove and viewing the tv. Its a difficult one all in all but if you have the opportunity to alter the L shape and make at least one leg of it slightly wider it may give you a better option for the burner, sofa and the cosiness without the feel of a long thin room with not many passing places. Just a couple of suggestions but as I can see the design brief or land size / constraints etc I might be a little off the mark. Cheers. Simon www.scdc.biz
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Hi Marie. It's difficult to tell how wide the room is but a round table could work at the foot of the stairs. Dress with a large bowl and plants/flowers etc. you could also try hanging 3 chandeliers or pendants down the hall. I would also have either 2 matching consoles opposite each other by the front door or keep your existing and add some seating opposite to create symmetry. I think if you were to dress the console with bigger items it would stand out more ie ginger jars on the bottom shelf, classic urns, plants etc on the top. Once you've got the basics done and budget permits, you can add further floor standing decorative pieces, a small chair etc. I think you definitely need some tall art by the front door though or even mirrors if you're not keen to add art
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