Enlarging a window

[condorguy]

We are buying a house that has a window in the family room that we think it too small and would like to replace the window with a larger one. To do this, would involve breaking the exterior brick and replacing the current window with a larger one...

Does anyone have an experience with this? Any idea on how much something like this would cost?

[virgoan]

We are in somewhat of a same situation...we want to get rid of the current window and put up a 6' patio door to the garden...we got a really rough estimate that it would cost $2,500

[audit13]

Is it legal to increase the size of the window? I think some city by-laws may not allow this to happen. A building permit may also be required.

I wanted to increase a kitchen window that faced my next-door neighbour. A City of Toronto inspector told me I could enlarge the window but I would have to seal up a smaller window.

[sunnybono]

We are buying a house that has a window in the family room that we think it too small and would like to replace the window with a larger one. To do this, would involve breaking the exterior brick and replacing the current window with a larger one...

Does anyone have an experience with this? Any idea on how much something like this would cost?

You will definitely need a permit to do this as there are structural implications to do this. The most import thing is the Lental will have to be replaced. The lental is the metal beam that you will find above all windows or doors holding up the bricks above. Who so ever installs the window should know this and should know some good bricklayers out there to do the job!!!!!

sk

[Pete_Coach]

We are in somewhat of a same situation...we want to get rid of the current window and put up a 6' patio door to the garden...we got a really rough estimate that it would cost $2,500

Considering that the retail price of a patio door can be as low as $450, $2500 for the job seems a bit odd.

[fireguy9]

Considering that the retail price of a patio door can be as low as $450, $2500 for the job seems a bit odd.

$450 patio door is JUNK!!!!!!!!!!!!! Cost me $2100 to put in a GENTEK 5ft patio door. Blew out the dinning room window and made it a patio door walkout.

Didnt bother with permits or anything,,,, installed right though.

[Pete_Coach]

$450 patio door is JUNK!!!!!!!!!!!!! Cost me $2100 to put in a GENTEK 5ft patio door. Blew out the dinning room window and made it a patio door walkout.
I did not say anything about quality, just about pricing...mellow out, geez. Who knows the quality of the door to be installed.
I paid much more for my door as well. I went shopping for a door then talked about the installation afterwards.

[dolphie]

we replaced a window with a patio door.
if you've got the know how (or know someone who does) it can be fairly reasonable.
we paid 650 for our 6 foot patio doors.
rented a concrete saw. did all the work ourselves. costs to do the actual job were under 50 bucks (plus the door) and a case or two of beer.
we went from this :
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y182/dolphie/HouseBandA/kitchen.jpg

to this: (don't mind the patio swing on it's face, t'was a windy day :P)
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y182/dolphie/HouseBandA/sliders.jpg

[curtis]

Looks awesome!

BTW, what were the binoculars for?

we replaced a window with a patio door.
if you've got the know how (or know someone who does) it can be fairly reasonable.
we paid 650 for our 6 foot patio doors.
rented a concrete saw. did all the work ourselves. costs to do the actual job were under 50 bucks (plus the door) and a case or two of beer.
we went from this :
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y182/dolphie/HouseBandA/kitchen.jpg

to this: (don't mind the patio swing on it's face, t'was a windy day :P)
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y182/dolphie/HouseBandA/sliders.jpg

[dolphie]

ha! i've never noticed them before!
that was actually a picture of when the previous owners lived there, (honest-notice the different fridge!) that the home inspector took.

It's a pretty busy street back there, so there's always lots to look at. Hopefully nothing they shouldn't have been looking at though!

[dolphie]

it looks like this now too :(sideways, but dark red paint, tile floor)

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y182/dolphie/hall123.jpg

[condorguy]

Thanks for all of the replies. Initially I thought that this would cost a fortune but it doesn't look like it anymore...

Anyone know of any reasonable windows guys? I am pretty handy (build our deck by myself) but I am too scared to do this by myself....

[fireguy9]

Biggest thing,,,,,,,,,,,,,,don't buy cheap product as you will pay for it in heatloss and down the road by the inferior products. Buy higher end patio doors etc