Creating Or Altering A Brick Opening

When you have decided to change your old, worn out front door, or you are taking advantage of a government rebate on new, energy efficient windows, you may need to make changes to the brick wall and opening that currently exists. Sometimes, when you are doing a full renovation of your home, you may need to delete a current opening and make a new one somewhere else. If your home is made of brick or masonry, you will need to have a masonry company enter the mix to safely alter the structure of your brick walls.

Figuring Out Where To Make The Opening

When you are trying to figure out where to put the new opening, or you are altering an existing opening, you have to factor in a few things. One thing to consider, is the location of structural support walls. If you are altering a wall that currently supports the floor above, for example, you may have to temporarily support the weight above while you are making the opening. This is also true if you are planning on widening an existing opening. Also, even if the home is a bungalow and the weight above is relative low, you may need to support the bricks above the opening so that they dont shift and require more extensive and expensive repairs.

Modern Support Systems

Many old century homes used wooden and arched brick lintels to support the weight above. These systems did their job for a long time, but modern steel lintels are the current code conforming standard that allows for openings to be made wider and stronger than ever before. Often, homes that are older have two layers, or wythes, of brick and both will need to be supported equally. This increases the work (doubles it in fact) and is something that one needs to consider when planning a new opening or altering an existing one.

Get in touch for a free quote!

At Wilkens Masonry, a family run company closing in on 50 years in business, we always offer free site visits and quotes. We will take as much time as needed to inform you into the processes required for the brick work you want done, so that you can make an informed decision and feel confident in the future of your home. Visit our website or check out our reviews on Google and Homestars to learn more about us. We look forward to hearing from you!

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