ᐅ New secondary entrance door

Created on: 5 Jan 2017 15:50
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rolandpower
Hello everyone,

I’m new here and have a big problem! I want to replace my side entrance door because it does not meet current standards for security and insulation. I have had a nice, sturdy new door designed, which is quite expensive. I’m not linking to anything here, but if anyone is interested in which company makes the door, I can share that in a separate thread.

The problem is that the old door, a fire-rated door installed as an exterior door to the basement, has an outside hinge and is surrounded by brick facing. So, the brick facing would need to be removed. It is completely intact and neatly built.

My questions: Is it possible to carefully remove the brick facing without causing much damage? Who usually does this kind of work? I don’t feel confident doing it myself!

Most likely, just removing the brick facing won’t be enough. That brings me to the next question. The frame or door jamb of the new door is much thicker, as is the door itself, like a modern front door...

Do I also need to alter the structural wall behind it, because otherwise I won’t be able to build the brick facing over the new frame? Basically, do I need to restore everything back to the original condition?

I wanted a modern and secure door, and this project is turning into a nightmare!

Thanks!
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nelly190
6 Jan 2017 14:10
Silly question, but if the door manufacturer is having so much trouble, why not ask another manufacturer?

Or maybe a masonry company. They might handle the entire installation for you, so the other company only needs to supply the door.
R
rolandpower
6 Jan 2017 14:43
I’m on it, nelly190... the manufacturer is still being finalized. I’m not inexperienced. As I said, my question should have been: how do I neatly mill out clinker bricks and reinsert them so that it looks like nothing was done?

I think there are milling machines that can remove the mortar, taking the bricks out from the sides and above the lintel... then re-mortar them afterwards. Nothing should get damaged!!!
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nelly190
7 Jan 2017 03:09
I would try using an angle grinder to separate the bricks. Another idea would be to deliberately use different facing bricks around the door, for example, black or something similar.
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rolandpower
7 Jan 2017 18:00
Thanks nelly190... I’ve also been thinking about milling out the mortar, but I’m just a bit hesitant. Although I’m fairly handy. It gets a bit tricky around the corner because the facing bricks overlap there. That makes it difficult. What I’m trying to do is get in touch with my old bricklayer, who can no longer do this kind of work but hopefully can guide me with something like: "do it this way or that way..!"

Otherwise, I’ll have to find someone to do it properly!!

All nonsense. If I had known back then... I would have gone with an inward-opening door. That would have been the instruction. Doors or frames can get damaged over the years, after all.
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nelly190
7 Jan 2017 23:55
The hardest part will be the beginning. Use a large angle grinder to make a cut and carefully try to loosen it. You can chip off the mortar from the bricks with a hammer or, if necessary, with a drill plus a wire brush.
R
rolandpower
8 Jan 2017 11:02
Nelly190, thank you very much for your effort here. I will see what I decide to do.
There are also special milling cutters for that. The only problem is, I can’t just start tearing down intact walls without knowing what the situation is. In my case, I don’t even know what all needs to be removed besides the facing bricks. I start taking out the bricks and then get stuck because something doesn’t fit with the door. Let’s see if the company gets back to me.

Thanks again and have a nice Sunday!!