Hello everyone,
now that our screed is in, our site manager measured and noticed that ALL door openings are too small. They are all lacking 2-4cm (about 1-1.5 inches). We were now suggested that the doors and door frames could be trimmed. However, we have white lacquered doors – so that probably isn’t really possible, right?
How would you solve this problem? Moving the lintel? How much would that cost the company?
Thanks
fun_2012
now that our screed is in, our site manager measured and noticed that ALL door openings are too small. They are all lacking 2-4cm (about 1-1.5 inches). We were now suggested that the doors and door frames could be trimmed. However, we have white lacquered doors – so that probably isn’t really possible, right?
How would you solve this problem? Moving the lintel? How much would that cost the company?
Thanks
fun_2012
Although it is practically possible to neatly undercut doors (the bottom edge would need to be resealed), if done carefully, assuming standard door sizes are used (e.g., simplified door dimension 90 x 200 cm, equivalent to a construction standard size of 88.5 x 201 cm), this means that if the doors are trimmed, replacing them later would require special-sized doors, which are significantly more expensive than standard sizes. Depending on the design, doors can quickly cost 1.5 times as much.
The cost of relocating the door lintels cannot be easily specified as it depends on the construction progress (already painted?) and the wall surface (skimmed/plastered or wallpapered?). If it is still a shell construction or if no plaster has been applied yet, I recommend insisting firmly and promptly on relocating the lintels. The deviations mentioned are clearly greater than the allowable tolerances in structural construction.
More crucial is the difference in effort depending on whether the doors are in drywall partitions or in solid walls; it is even more complicated if these are load-bearing walls. If the door lintels in solid walls are only to be trimmed, I recommend consulting an external specialist. It is critical to ensure that the concrete cover over the reinforcement remains intact—this depends on the construction method. Trimming the lintels by up to 4 cm (1.5 inches) can risk compromising the load-bearing capacity of the lintels or the reinforcement cover.
I also recommend checking the sill heights of the windows. It is important that the minimum sill heights (to prevent fall hazards) are not undercut (these heights vary depending on the situation and region). Overall, check where the error occurs so that there are no unpleasant surprises later during staircase installation.
Conclusion: I would insist on corrective work, especially if the doors are 2 m (6 ft 7 in) high; for taller doors, this is at least more tolerable in use.
The cost of relocating the door lintels cannot be easily specified as it depends on the construction progress (already painted?) and the wall surface (skimmed/plastered or wallpapered?). If it is still a shell construction or if no plaster has been applied yet, I recommend insisting firmly and promptly on relocating the lintels. The deviations mentioned are clearly greater than the allowable tolerances in structural construction.
More crucial is the difference in effort depending on whether the doors are in drywall partitions or in solid walls; it is even more complicated if these are load-bearing walls. If the door lintels in solid walls are only to be trimmed, I recommend consulting an external specialist. It is critical to ensure that the concrete cover over the reinforcement remains intact—this depends on the construction method. Trimming the lintels by up to 4 cm (1.5 inches) can risk compromising the load-bearing capacity of the lintels or the reinforcement cover.
I also recommend checking the sill heights of the windows. It is important that the minimum sill heights (to prevent fall hazards) are not undercut (these heights vary depending on the situation and region). Overall, check where the error occurs so that there are no unpleasant surprises later during staircase installation.
Conclusion: I would insist on corrective work, especially if the doors are 2 m (6 ft 7 in) high; for taller doors, this is at least more tolerable in use.
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