Door Widening

Hi all.

I have just bought a house which is timber throughtout. I have a door way seperating the lounge and dinning rooms. I want to widen the door way an additional 400 - 500mm.
Beside the electrical and plumbing which there are none, is there anything anyone here believes I should take into consideration?
My plan was to remove the door frame cut back to where I want the door frame to finish and replace the frame with a longer header.
But if anyone can help with obvious things too look out for I would be greatful.

Thanks

You will need to check if the wall is a load bearing wall. To widen the doorway but 500mm you will be taking out at least one stud, which may or may not be providing support to the roof.
If it is a newer home with roof truss construction, there is no problem doing this on an internal wall.
If it is an older home with a pitched roof, you will need to investigate (get up in the roof), to see if the part of the wall you are removing provides any structural support to the roof. If it does, or if your'e not sure, probably best to get a builder to have a look for you, you may have to put in a lintel over the opening.

Grinner

grinner,


Thanks. the house was built in the 1950's and yes it has a pitched roof.

get a chippie's advice on this one - it sounds like you will be removing at least one stud, but more likely more, if you wish to keep everything centred. Definnitely ascertain whether the wall is load bearing or not as it will make all the difference in time, cost and work. Do you intend to add double doors or leave it open?

have fun

You want to do what I did today !

Cut about 2000mm out of my living room wall.

I checked if it was load bearing (this is a '50s queenslander) and there was nothing on it - it was just there to hold up the cornice :)

We are leaving it open - pulling up the carpet, polishing the floors etc.
We are debating on framing it back up at the height of the existing door, it would then match the wall behind it. Our other thought was to take the walls right out till we can only just fit an architrave (sp sorry) and take it up to within 300 of the ceiling (it is currently 600) anyway enough of my hijack.

Things you need to do.

Asbestos - do you have it - find that out first

Get up in the roof and find the doorway see if there are any roof trusses being supported by it, see if there are any beams runninging across it etc.

Work out if it is loaded and how much.

Work out how much of a lintel is over your door, don't forget you will need to remove that and add one that covers the new span - so you will need to remove a bit of plasterboard around it so you can manoeuvre the new lintel in.

Frame up the new doorway and dress the jam.

Re-plaster - relax and enjoy

Tom