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Hausbautraum204 Feb 2021 16:17Hello!
I have a question that might seem a bit silly, but it’s been on my mind a lot lately.
For cost reasons, we decided against a lift-and-slide door to the terrace. Besides the price, another reason was that the access to the terrace would be narrower compared to a door that opens both ways.
But as often happens with building a house, doubts come up afterwards or during the process. Now we’ve been thinking, what if someday it really bothers us, and due to inheritance or something else, we suddenly have enough money? If we wanted to widen the window area later, or install a completely new terrace door on another side, that would probably be quite complicated (or maybe even impossible)?
So here’s my silly question: Such extensive work would probably take more than one day, right? How would the house be secured during that time? You can’t just leave the ground floor open for a week while you’re already living in the house.
Has anyone ever done something like this, or do such window enlargements mostly apply to older buildings that aren’t yet occupied?
Thanks a lot for your advice :-)
We’re having a really hard time balancing budget and wishes. On one hand, we’re afraid of financial trouble, but on the other hand, we’re worried we’ll regret it later. That’s why these thoughts keep bothering us...
I have a question that might seem a bit silly, but it’s been on my mind a lot lately.
For cost reasons, we decided against a lift-and-slide door to the terrace. Besides the price, another reason was that the access to the terrace would be narrower compared to a door that opens both ways.
But as often happens with building a house, doubts come up afterwards or during the process. Now we’ve been thinking, what if someday it really bothers us, and due to inheritance or something else, we suddenly have enough money? If we wanted to widen the window area later, or install a completely new terrace door on another side, that would probably be quite complicated (or maybe even impossible)?
So here’s my silly question: Such extensive work would probably take more than one day, right? How would the house be secured during that time? You can’t just leave the ground floor open for a week while you’re already living in the house.
Has anyone ever done something like this, or do such window enlargements mostly apply to older buildings that aren’t yet occupied?
Thanks a lot for your advice :-)
We’re having a really hard time balancing budget and wishes. On one hand, we’re afraid of financial trouble, but on the other hand, we’re worried we’ll regret it later. That’s why these thoughts keep bothering us...
N
nordanney4 Feb 2021 16:32Hausbautraum20 schrieb:
If you wanted to widen the window front afterward or install a completely new patio door on another side, that would probably be quite complicated (or maybe even impossible?) Not just complicated, but very complicated. You’d need a structural engineer, remove everything and chisel out the existing structure (including disposing of the expensive existing window), install supports and a lintel for the opening. Widening might be similar. You may need to partially replace the floor. Adjust the electrical system (e.g., for electric shutters of the new window/door or possibly relocate them if extending). There will be a lot of dirt and dust. New plastering will be necessary. The work can take several days, depending on exactly what needs to be done.
P.S. In a few years, you probably won’t want to do it. By then, you’ll regret spending the thousands of euros you invested for the current state plus several more thousands for the desired state.
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Hausbautraum204 Feb 2021 16:50Certainly not in the next few years.
But if one of us inherits something in 10 to 20 years, then maybe it would be worth doing some renovations that we held back on now. I’m not sure.
Of course, it also depends on whether a lot of effort means $10k or $30k...
Thanks for your opinion!
But if one of us inherits something in 10 to 20 years, then maybe it would be worth doing some renovations that we held back on now. I’m not sure.
Of course, it also depends on whether a lot of effort means $10k or $30k...
Thanks for your opinion!
Hello,
in 20 years, people might be more inclined to do something like this anyway, as some windows will probably need replacing by then. However, changing the size is a completely different matter than just swapping them out. Especially with floor-to-ceiling windows and a change of system, you might even have to open up the floor. Then it becomes a full-scale project, possibly involving new screed and underfloor heating as well...
Regarding the lift-and-slide door: I don’t understand why anyone would install one. My parents' house had one, and later my mother lived for 25 years in an apartment with such a door. I always found them very impractical because you have to move a large, heavy door every time you go through it.
We hardly ever kept it fully open, maybe only to carry the Christmas tree in and out. Especially in a modern house, you tend to keep all doors and windows nicely closed in summer, otherwise it quickly gets to 30°C (86°F) inside.
Some of our neighbors and friends also have sliding doors, and they mostly keep them closed or just slightly open. So, I don’t think I’m alone in my opinion...
A tip on the side: during the construction phase, you spend an enormous amount of time worrying about this and that, and some details seem incredibly important. Once you’re living there, all of that doesn’t matter anymore, and you don’t even notice whether you installed tile abc or xyz...
Best regards,
Andreas
in 20 years, people might be more inclined to do something like this anyway, as some windows will probably need replacing by then. However, changing the size is a completely different matter than just swapping them out. Especially with floor-to-ceiling windows and a change of system, you might even have to open up the floor. Then it becomes a full-scale project, possibly involving new screed and underfloor heating as well...
Regarding the lift-and-slide door: I don’t understand why anyone would install one. My parents' house had one, and later my mother lived for 25 years in an apartment with such a door. I always found them very impractical because you have to move a large, heavy door every time you go through it.
We hardly ever kept it fully open, maybe only to carry the Christmas tree in and out. Especially in a modern house, you tend to keep all doors and windows nicely closed in summer, otherwise it quickly gets to 30°C (86°F) inside.
Some of our neighbors and friends also have sliding doors, and they mostly keep them closed or just slightly open. So, I don’t think I’m alone in my opinion...
A tip on the side: during the construction phase, you spend an enormous amount of time worrying about this and that, and some details seem incredibly important. Once you’re living there, all of that doesn’t matter anymore, and you don’t even notice whether you installed tile abc or xyz...
Best regards,
Andreas
H
Hausbautraum204 Feb 2021 17:25Thanks for sharing your opinion!
We also don’t consider a sliding door to be the ultimate solution. The main advantage would have been the step-free access to the outside.
However, we have actually planned significantly fewer windows than the rest of the new development. This has become very noticeable to us now that the house is built. The plots are actually quite small, and on the south side we have 10 meters (33 feet) to the nearest semi-detached house, less than 10 meters (33 feet) to the east, and less than 10 meters (33 feet) to the street on the west side. Somehow, we just never thought about installing huge window fronts there.
Yet, everyone else seems to have at least large or even gigantic window fronts facing the street. This is making us feel a bit uncertain now. What if it bothers us in the long term? At least no one is living there yet, and construction work would still be possible.
We also don’t consider a sliding door to be the ultimate solution. The main advantage would have been the step-free access to the outside.
However, we have actually planned significantly fewer windows than the rest of the new development. This has become very noticeable to us now that the house is built. The plots are actually quite small, and on the south side we have 10 meters (33 feet) to the nearest semi-detached house, less than 10 meters (33 feet) to the east, and less than 10 meters (33 feet) to the street on the west side. Somehow, we just never thought about installing huge window fronts there.
Yet, everyone else seems to have at least large or even gigantic window fronts facing the street. This is making us feel a bit uncertain now. What if it bothers us in the long term? At least no one is living there yet, and construction work would still be possible.
Winniefred4 Feb 2021 17:26This is very complex. It affects the structural integrity, and electrical installations might need to be modified, along with interior plaster, exterior insulation, plaster, and paint. It involves a lot of dirt and work. Honestly, I don’t think people usually do this later on, at least not while living in the house. Normally, such work is done when the property changes ownership or when a major renovation is necessary anyway. It would definitely be more cost-effective to deal with it now.
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