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We’d like to put a door where a window currently is. We have a brick house. I’ve tried to find books on toothing the brick to make the opening. Any suggestions on what to read? Can anyone talk me through it.
We don’t need to do any other adjustment to the opening. The windows are all the same depth from the ceiling as the doors and there are no electrical, plumbing or ducting where we want the opening.
Thanks,
Tara
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I've not done it but watched several times. Our masons use a dry-cut diamond saw ("demo saw") and cut the brick to the exact dimensions. In other words, the vertical edge lines up with the mortar joint on every other course; the courses that it doesn't line up with get cut flush with the saw. That way there is no patching at all and no worry about trying to match the color of old mortar. The only appearance problem is that the cut ends look different from the natural ends. We just live with it.
It may be worth the price to have a mason do that much for you.
*Not a lot to it. It's better to take out more then to try an do it exactly to the openning. What this means is that you take a line down from the edge of the window on both sides.Normally, you will find a mortar joint hits the line on every second course.To the outside of the line you take out the next brick and on the next course the line will be in the middle of the brick, on that course you take out the half and a full one towards the outside.You may find it easier to use a cold chisel on the joints that you want to tooth before you cut out the window base for the door openning. This way the bricks are fairly solid and then you will be able to chisel into the mortar without knocking down any other bricks.Once you have chiseled the mortar you can start at the top course and work your way down to the bottom.It's one of those times that if you take your time, the repairs will be minimal and the end result will be well worth it.Once you have the bricks out of the way, clean them off and pay special attention to the ends of the ones you will be using to face the openning with.You can buy pre-mixed mortar in bags and you only have to add water.Install a temporary wooden frame to make sure that you end up with a perfectly straight edge to your openning.Take your time and you should be fine. Kinda like putting layers on a cake. The more you rush the more unbalanced the results.Gabe
*hmmmm....I have a few questions...."...put a door where a window currently is." Is the proposed door the same width as the window? Will this door be exposed to the elements, or will it lead to an enclosed area, e.g. a sunroom or enclosed porch? Will you be doing the work yourself, or are you seeking better understanding of the work involved to make a better decision when it comes time to invite bids on this project?One note worthy of mention: any toothing will stand out like a sore thumb, regardless of care taken to match mortar color, especially new work on existing structures.