Switch from door to window on brick facade

[order66]

Hi!

We have found a brick house from the 70s that we are interested in. The somewhat strange thing about the house is that it has five different entrances. I don't understand why one would have so many entrances. Anyway, we've made an offer on it and started thinking about how we could reduce the number of entrances.

The main entrance and the utility entrance are regular front doors, while the other three are patio doors with 1 panel and 1 glass pane. If one would like to remove entrances and install glass instead, how would you do it most attractively/practically on a brick house? I found this thread, but it's 10 years old. So maybe there's someone with a bit more insight/inspiration on this?

Preferably if someone has done something similar and is willing to share some inspirational pictures.

Edit: Attaching a picture of the floor plan with the entrances.

 

[Åsa Lund]

A patio door can't be unlocked from the outside, so if you want to be picky, it's an exit from the inside and not the other way around.

If it were my house, I would keep all the doors. Possibly replace them so they become patio doors with glass all the way down to the floor.

 

[Jörgen Ö]

Well, patio doors are obviously available with locks from the outside, but perhaps not the most common. Regarding what looks best for a brick house, it's up to each person, but there are absolutely no problems replacing a patio door with a fixed window, for example, as it's installed in the same way as a patio door.

 

[order66]

Well, patio doors are, of course, also available with locks from the outside, but perhaps not the most common.
Regarding what looks best for a brick house is up to each individual, but there are absolutely no problems to replace a patio door
with a fixed window, for example, as it is installed in the same way as a patio door.

I guess the problem arises if you want to include brick when closing off a patio door. Finding it and then it might look odd if it's not the same shade in the brick.

 

[Jörgen Ö]

I assume the problem arises if you want to include bricks when closing off a patio door. Finding them and then it might look odd if they don't match the shade of the existing bricks.

That's true, even though it's possible, but the question is whether it's worth the effort!?
Personally, I wouldn't think so.

 

[janwide]

We replaced a large, tall window with a lower one. We have a brick facade, and those who built the house had conveniently set aside a stack of the original brick. Otherwise, you have to try to find the same brick as the rest of the facade. It can probably be done with a bit of persistence!

 

[order66]

We replaced a large, tall window with a lower one. We have a brick facade and those who built the house had conveniently put aside a pile of the original bricks. Otherwise, it would require trying to find the same brick as the rest of the facade. It can probably be done with a pinch of persistence!

I wonder then if there is any way to find out exactly which brick has been used?

 

[Åsa Lund]

The difficult part will be finding the right kind of brick. If it's Swedish, it might become almost impossible because almost all Swedish brickworks have shut down.
Then you also need to build some inner wall on the inside...

 

[richardtenggren]

We solved it by tearing off the brick and installing a wooden facade

The brickworks that made the bricks for our house burned down around the time our house was built, it was a bit of an odd profile anyway. Quite miserable actually Since we were expanding anyway, we chose to adapt to the area and install a wooden facade.

 

[order66]

We solved it by tearing down the bricks and putting up a wooden facade

The brickworks that made the bricks for our house burned down at the time our house was built, and it was somewhat of an odd profile too. Quite miserable actually Since we were expanding anyway, we chose to adapt to the area and put up a wooden facade.

Could we see a picture of your solution? Or do you mean that you put a wooden facade on the entire house?

 

[richardtenggren]

Well, we tore down all the bricks, I think I've posted a picture before, but I understand if it's not current.

But maybe those bricks are of a more common kind too?

 

[janwide]

A start could be to just take a couple of close-up photos of your current brick and post them on this page. Maybe someone has a small pile that matches!

 

[order66]

A start could be to just take a couple of close-ups of your current bricks and post them on this site. Maybe someone has a small pile that matches!

Smart! Good tip if we win the bidding and want to change!

 

[order66]

So, we tore down all the brick, I think I posted a picture earlier, but I understand if it's not relevant.

But maybe that brick is of a more common type too?

yeah now I get it. I thought you meant that you put a wooden facade and windows on a small part because there used to be a door there.

Is it common to do so? Tear down the brick and put a wooden facade?

 

[richardtenggren]

Yes, now I understand. I thought you meant you installed a wooden facade and windows on a small section because it was previously a door.

Is it common to do that? Remove the brick and install a wooden facade?

Probably not, but we live in an old fishing village, so brick did not fit in here. At the same time, we were expanding and couldn't source our brick. We also considered plastering the house, but it would be difficult to make it look good on our own and wouldn't allow for any additional insulation.

Maybe you could plaster the section you close off, if it's hard to match the brick?