• Thanks for visiting The Penturners Forum today.

    There are many features and resources that currently you are unable to see or access, either because you're not yet registered, or if you're already registered, because you're not logged in.

    To gain full access to the forum, please log in or register now. Registration is completely free, it only takes a few seconds, and you can join our well established community of like-minded pen makers.

Putting in a window

ataylor

Registered
Joined
Nov 6, 2011
Posts
1,668
Location
UK
First Name
Andy
Gosh I thought this was about Halloween night when I first read the title. :devil:
 

rayf6604

Registered
Joined
May 1, 2014
Posts
2,726
Location
Narrowboat dweller Willington, Derby
First Name
Ray
Well what can i say? I have only had about 45 years as a self employed builder and decorator and many years buying old houses and converting them into Flats to resell, I would have thought ray would have a fair amount of common sense about how to use acrows on safe ground and poking a bit of wood through a brick wall etc, but there you go I was only trying to help! :rolling:
And I appreciate your help, I'll need to look at the costs to see what's what, I don't know whether the FENSA regs apply to a garage or not, but I do know that window installation in a house needs a FENSA certification. If I can get the knowledge of how to do something correctly I'll have the confidence to tackle it but it all comes down to the cost at the end of the day.
 

Grump

Grand Master
Joined
Aug 17, 2013
Posts
10,510
Location
Stevenage
First Name
Brian
I wasn't questioning your abilities or experience BH nor anyone else's, simply that you assumed Ray has common sense.
He has, but may not have and other people reading this may well not have.

What is a simple procedure for you may be very complicated for someone else.
I was pointing out if you are not sure then employ someone who is, don't mess with a structural alteration until you are confident in what you are doing.
The consequences can be disastrous and modern building regs change on a weekly basis so be sure you do what's right if you want to sell the property.

A prospective buyer and their surveyor or engineer will want to know who did what work and how long is the guarantee on said work.
I am no longer involved in the building industry, I am pleased about that so am not in a position to advise how to do the work.
So I didn't and wouldn't.

This'll cheer you up a bit init?
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=688449494583136
 

bassethound

Executive Member
Joined
Mar 12, 2014
Posts
7,581
Location
East Sussex
First Name
Ted
Grumps I am quite happy about what you say,All I was saying is that it's quite simple to do a job like that if you want to tackle it,
Those sort of things are common things that most builders do, otherwise they would never make a living messing around trying to please officials and council officers who are more concerned about getting people to spend more money for plans and bloody permits for this and that, most have nothing to do with safety,some things they spout about are not laws anyway.
There are not many things you cannot do if you are and can prove you are capable of doing! omg i do go on sometimes:goesred:
 

Buckeye

ペンメーカー
Executive Member
Joined
Oct 15, 2013
Posts
9,696
Location
UK
First Name
Peter
I have knocked walls down, put windows in, run electrics and plumbing, but always got a professional to give me the skinny and sign off on it, you pay for it, but it's a lot less than having builders in. I had a quote of £2000 to put underfloor heating in the bathroom, did it myself for less than £400 including all the tiles and my neighbour who is an electrician checked everything at each stage and made the final connections and signed off on it.

Peter
 

bassethound

Executive Member
Joined
Mar 12, 2014
Posts
7,581
Location
East Sussex
First Name
Ted
I have knocked walls down, put windows in, run electrics and plumbing, but always got a professional to give me the skinny and sign off on it, you pay for it, but it's a lot less than having builders in. I had a quote of £2000 to put underfloor heating in the bathroom, did it myself for less than £400 including all the tiles and my neighbour who is an electrician checked everything at each stage and made the final connections and signed off on it.

Peter

Exactly you used your head and well done! I don't think Ray would have any problems with a Garage window job anyway, It's still a simple job and shouldn't cost very much, If I was younger I would prob do it for him but i think 78 is time to forget it!:whistling:
 

Buckeye

ペンメーカー
Executive Member
Joined
Oct 15, 2013
Posts
9,696
Location
UK
First Name
Peter
Exactly you used your head and well done! I don't think Ray would have any problems with a Garage window job anyway, It's still a simple job and shouldn't cost very much, If I was younger I would prob do it for him but i think 78 is time to forget it!:whistling:

You could always hire yourself out as a consultant:thumbs:

Peter
 

Doug

Loquacious
Executive Member
Joined
Aug 25, 2013
Posts
6,723
Location
In the wood shop
First Name
Take a guess
Ray if you want a hand I'd be happy to help, I've obviously got all the gear & depending on the size of window you want I've more than likely git a concrete lintel, I'll leave it with you :nooidea:
 

Grump

Grand Master
Joined
Aug 17, 2013
Posts
10,510
Location
Stevenage
First Name
Brian
Now that's the sort of offer you need Ray, someone who knows.
Well done Doug, a wonderful forum with all this expert help.
 

rayf6604

Registered
Joined
May 1, 2014
Posts
2,726
Location
Narrowboat dweller Willington, Derby
First Name
Ray
Ray if you want a hand I'd be happy to help, I've obviously got all the gear & depending on the size of window you want I've more than likely git a concrete lintel, I'll leave it with you :nooidea:
That's a fab offer Doug thanks. I get back off holiday tomorrow so I'll have a look at it to see what sort of size I could get in. It won't be big as all the wall space has something leaning against it . Maybe we can get together some time so you can tell me what materials I'll need and I'll need to find a reclamation yard to see what they have in the way of a window. :thumbs:
 

Lons

Fellow
Joined
Dec 17, 2013
Posts
4,765
Location
Northumberland
First Name
Bob
I've kept out of this 'cos I could see an argument brewing:funny:

I'm a builder as well and I've put in a number of doors and windows into garages over the years. I have to agree in that it's very simple for any competent DIYer with a modicum of sense and a little research. Shame you're not nearer to me as I think I have a PVCu window tucked away in a shed. Doug has made a great offer and you should be sorted but the only point I would make is don't use timber as a lintel. Concrete lintels are very cheap, made for the job and completely stable, if you do need building regs (and that's not definite without knowing further details) the BI will possibly not allow timber if you have roof trusses bearing on to it. In this case as the proposed window is smaller than the truss centres a lintel is supporting only a few courses of bricks and the alternative and much easier solution is instead of a lintel, just shove in a length of 100 x 75 angle iron to support the bricks. Perfectly acceptable to all concerned

A modern trussed roof is very easy to support as the loading is spread and you would have to do something stupid to compromise that. The trusses will be spaced at 600mm centres, fixed and supported on a 100 x 50mm wall plate which in itself is capable of supporting the weight for a short period. I would definitely NOT advise anyone to do that btw:nonono: Just making a point! Acros are the easy way to go but there would be absolutely no problem spanning the trusses with a substantial timber or scaffold board and wedging something like fence posts between that and the garage floor - easy peasy.

Grump is right of course (isn't he always:whistling:) in that if you don't know you shouldn't attempt it and should get in the pros however I'd be looking to charge at least £400 for that plus materials so money easily saved.

My opinion is that a window in a garage is nearly always a positive except for possible security issues and as long as done properly will enhance, not detract from future property sale.
 

paulm

grave manibus faciendum
Registered
Joined
Oct 7, 2013
Posts
12,045
Location
Sandford
First Name
Paul
This has been a very interesting thread with all sorts of help offered... I've got a submarine that I want to put a window in... :funny::funny::funny::funny::funny::funny:
 

Grump

Grand Master
Joined
Aug 17, 2013
Posts
10,510
Location
Stevenage
First Name
Brian
I agree totally 100% with you Bob.
Having worked in the building trades myself and even my plastics business was supplying to the building trades among others.
My company was originally setup with a structural engineers practice (Sloma partnership which later became Allan McEwan associates).
I was the Void Formers Ltd side of the practice, anyone who has done any piling will know of my patented products (heavesleeve and Formavoid).
I was well known n the industry as the tube man, tube technology our slogan.
I have kept samples of concrete and been expert witness for some and most of the big building companies.
I have seen some tricks and disasters in my career and wouldn't like to see it happen to a member of our group.
We had little knowledge to go on and I wasn't looking for an argument but pointing out things a DIYer might not know.
I have seen serving hatches put in toilets, houses literally sunk into the ground to chimney pot level overnight, listed buildings knocked down, heritage buildings converted.
All because the DIYer and builder has not known or researched what he is doing, all these things had to be corrected and somebody has to pay for the correction.
If I didn't know what I was doing then £400 will have been money well spent on your services.
I have piled some buildings to the tune of more expense than the building was worth due to incompetence.
Frenchay Hospital in Bristol now stands on my foundations with some piles going a depth of 150 metres because it was built over a Victorian rubbish dump.
I made sleeves for the QE2 bridge to correct failed structural works, it is not only the roof that needs to be considered but think about the foundations to.
None of this may be relevant in Rays case but y other point was this is a public forum and anyone else reading it may think it is a simple process and could come a cropper from advise given.
My advise is still, if you dn't know then don't attempt any structural work, get someone who knows to do the work.
My word I can rabbit init?
 

Lons

Fellow
Joined
Dec 17, 2013
Posts
4,765
Location
Northumberland
First Name
Bob
My word I can rabbit init?
Yep - but me too:funny::funny:

Absolutely right about the public forum bit Brian but I think any "outsider" who goes ahead just reding this thread on it's own is a chump anyway and is going to do something stupid whatever is said.
Unfortuately the web, as wonderful as it is, has the responsibility of allowing all sorts of misleading and often downright dangerous information to be accessessed by those who shouldn't be allowed near anything that isn't blunt or flameable:wink:
 

bassethound

Executive Member
Joined
Mar 12, 2014
Posts
7,581
Location
East Sussex
First Name
Ted
Ok I admit about using timber as a lintel and i was going back years when we did that but it was allowed at that time, and prob still is in places,the thing is it all started as a simple job of a small bloody window in a garage not a bloody civil engineering project and I still say ray and anyone else could do it easily, all i wanted to do was give a bit of help, but of course we had to have there you are you have heard it from a master builder or something and good job we have all these experts in this forum, well lets forget the bloody issue and find out the best way about Pauls submarine project! Brian has it right " knock a hole and poke a bit of wood through it" Lifes too bloody short and I've used up a fair bit of mine.. putting windows in walls!:kiss:
 

Doug

Loquacious
Executive Member
Joined
Aug 25, 2013
Posts
6,723
Location
In the wood shop
First Name
Take a guess
I took this wooden lintel out recently on a cloakroom refurb, as you can see the brickwork had dropped due to movement

image.jpg

It didn't help that the one end was supported on a single column of half bricks not tied into any other brickwork with plasterboard used as packers :shocking:

image.jpg

But on the bright side the lintel was very dry & I saved it for turning :whistling:
 


Write your reply...
Warning! This thread has not had any replies for over a year. You are welcome to post a reply here, but it might be better to start a new thread (and maybe include a link to this one if you need to).
Top