Cutting a new doorway into garage
Discussion
We are exchanging this week on our new place. It's a 3 storey townhouse with internal garage. Unfortunately there is no door from the garage into the house. Therefore, one of my first jobs / projects will be to get a doorway cut.
I understand it will have to be a 'fire door', and that it will obviously require a lintel cutting into it. The wall is block (from the garage side at least) and I 'think' the wall is structural, running all the way up to the roof, rather than just an internal wall for the ground floor.
Will I need to acro prop the floors and wall to both sides of the doorway? I have someone who will do it (father in law, pretty handy at most DIY) but he seems to think it will require a mass of supports etc to brace the wall while the hole is cut and lintel goes in, whereas I am not sure.
Any ideas what getting someone in to do the job would be likely to cost? I am perfectly capable of fitting a door frame and hanging a door, I just dont fancy cutting holes and having walls collapse!
I understand it will have to be a 'fire door', and that it will obviously require a lintel cutting into it. The wall is block (from the garage side at least) and I 'think' the wall is structural, running all the way up to the roof, rather than just an internal wall for the ground floor.
Will I need to acro prop the floors and wall to both sides of the doorway? I have someone who will do it (father in law, pretty handy at most DIY) but he seems to think it will require a mass of supports etc to brace the wall while the hole is cut and lintel goes in, whereas I am not sure.
Any ideas what getting someone in to do the job would be likely to cost? I am perfectly capable of fitting a door frame and hanging a door, I just dont fancy cutting holes and having walls collapse!
As long as you don't beat the s
t out of the wall you will be fine. As its DIY I'd suggest a couple of props assuming joists bearing over the doorway.
Hire a grinder that will take a 14" blade to cut the verticals and a saber saw to cut out the lintel openings, no beating will be needed.
Don't forget Building Control.
t out of the wall you will be fine. As its DIY I'd suggest a couple of props assuming joists bearing over the doorway. Hire a grinder that will take a 14" blade to cut the verticals and a saber saw to cut out the lintel openings, no beating will be needed.
Don't forget Building Control.
You need to make sure you have a step down into the garage, its normally the case that the garage floor is lower than the floor in the house, but you need to check.As already mentioned cut it out with care and you'll be fine with a couple of acrows with strongboys.You can use a concrete lintol, their cheap as chips.You'll need a fire door frame with weather seals( doors leading from garages can let in quite a bit of cold) and fire door fitted with a self closer, or self closing hinges, fit a good BS 5 lever lock for security.
Neighbour was recently quoted £600 + cost of lintel (~£30) to supply/fit pedestrian door to detached garage - can't imagine doing it internally would be radically different.
I was quoted £140 to cut a hole into garage wall, install lintel and window (me to supply lintel/window).
One thing to watch out for: cutting brick generates a decent quantity of really fine dust. Worth sealing off both sides of the job as best you can as it gets everywhere.
I was quoted £140 to cut a hole into garage wall, install lintel and window (me to supply lintel/window).
One thing to watch out for: cutting brick generates a decent quantity of really fine dust. Worth sealing off both sides of the job as best you can as it gets everywhere.
Busa mav said:
you just need a 100mm step at the door threshold, if the floors are level ( very unusual ) you can build a non combustible threshold to give a 100mm .
A garage full of petrol 100mm deep is a lot of petrol!The average tank holds maybe 60 litres - what depth of liquid is that if spread equally over a (single) garage floor?
Perhaps one can avoid this rule if you put a sign up saying 'diesel vehicles only'...
LooneyTunes said:
One thing to watch out for: cutting brick generates a decent quantity of really fine dust. Worth sealing off both sides of the job as best you can as it gets everywhere.
Was gonna say - put down a couple of dust sheets on the house side of the cut as there may be a small amount of dust etc to clean up after the doorway is made 
Without seeing the wall , I've cut many openings in walls without supports (strong boys /acroprops etc) , most usually hold there own until the lintel is put in ,
Hire a 110v cut off saw with some sort of vacuum attachment , this would keep the dust down to a minimum , any hire shop will have all the kit needed to do it ..
Hire a 110v cut off saw with some sort of vacuum attachment , this would keep the dust down to a minimum , any hire shop will have all the kit needed to do it ..
Simpo Two said:
A garage full of petrol 100mm deep is a lot of petrol!
The average tank holds maybe 60 litres - what depth of liquid is that if spread equally over a (single) garage floor?
Perhaps one can avoid this rule if you put a sign up saying 'diesel vehicles only'...
It's there to stop the Carbon monoxide gas from exhaust emissions entering the house and slowly poisoning you The average tank holds maybe 60 litres - what depth of liquid is that if spread equally over a (single) garage floor?
Perhaps one can avoid this rule if you put a sign up saying 'diesel vehicles only'...
smokey mow said:
It's there to stop the Carbon monoxide gas from exhaust emissions entering the house and slowly poisoning you
How would a step in the floor prevent carbon monoxide from entering the house? The step is for the reason already stated, the floor can also a fall/slope, ( instead of the step) so spilt fuel will run out of the garage rather than enter the house.Gassing Station | Homes, Gardens and DIY | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff