How difficult is it to cut new windows into a brick house?
Question:I have an old clinker brick house and would like to add a couple of stained glass windows. I'm wondering if a person could do the cutting themselves with a masonry saw.
Thanks.
Answers:
You first have to put a galvanised angle iron lintel in above where you want to cut to support the brickwork above. With an angle grinder cut out the mortar as deep as the angle iron leg. Then you can start cutting through the bricks that will be cut in half below. The whole bricks you can knock out.
I did this.
It is not as hard as you think.
You use a blade that is the one used to cut granite. Then you just saw -try and cut along the mortar as much as possible.
Then you just knock it out. It falls apart pretty easy.
Not knowing how your house is built, I give a tentative Thumbs Up. You'll have to frame out the opening of course to install the window, so dealing with the cinder block will be tricky at first. Do you live in a climate that needs insulated windows....your project could be a major heat or cooling loss, so think it through. But as a lover of stain glass my self, I think it's a neat idea.
sure can, go rent one and do your verticle cut first. that way it all comes out in one piece. remember to over cut for blade curviture. you can easly repair the lines left by smashing one of the pieces of brick to powder and mixing with small amount of water
I've been a master mason for some 35 years and I will tell you that to cut the brick properly is the hardest job to ever try for a professional. I would spend the extra money to have a professional cut out the brick for the windows otherwise you will be spending a lot more to make the windows look correct.
Bradley
yes they can as long as they know what size to make the opening. you will have to tooth out the jambs so you are not showing a cut edge along your window jambs. then you will need to lay the brick back in along your jamb after the window is installed. if i were you i would hire it out unless you are a good do-it -yourselfer
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