Fitting new first-floor window

[Lobster]

I've got to fit a new upstairs window soon, which I'm just trying to get my head round.

I was hoping to support the brickwork (cavity wall) above using strongboy + acro prop; however, the centre of the window (where the strongboy needs to go) is over a stairwell, so the acro prop would need to stand on a stair, about 10 feet below. (see ASCII art below - however the window is further to the right than shown, and the bulkhead at a shallower angle, so the centre of the window will in fact be over the angled bulkhead). That doesn't sound strong enough to me? Or on the ground outside, which is even further down?

There are only 2-3 brick courses above the window before the wall plate upon which the ceiling joists/roof rafters sit (perpendicular to the wall). Would I be able to just remove the bricks above altogether - would the wallplate take the load OK? New window will be 650mm from corner of house, and about 900mm wide.

Thanks David

| |bulkhead tba | ________ | | | new | | | | window | | | |________| / | / | / |____________/ | raised floor over | stairwell | _________1st floor_______ | __| | __| | __| | __| | __| | __| |_| Ground floor

[andrewd909]

bulkhead

is this a new window or a replacement? if a replacement the lintel should support the wall above, if its a new window or there is no lintle fitted one way of supporting the bricks is to cut away the mortar from the course above and insert a length of steel angle iron across the opening with a 6'' overlap at each side.

[Lobster]

snip

A new one. if a replacement the lintel

Now *that* sounds a hell of an idea, especially as I am simultaneously facing the task of fitting a load of replacement windows which I know don't have lintels already :-(

Some of my existing windows are as much as 2.3m wide (that's a downstairs one). Would this angle iron trick work there too, while I fit lintels, do we think? What grade/strength/thickness of angle iron can you get? Logic rather tells me this would be indadequate in the case of a downstairs 2.3m span, but then again, the timber window is holding it all up OK at the moment! We're only talking outer leaves too; the inner leaves (which presumably support the joists etc) already have lintels.

David

[andrewd909]

The suggestion to use angle iron was only intended for the 900mm opening on an upstairs window, anything much larger and the brickwork will have to be supported using needles,props etc. How old is your house, as it was built with cavities it's suprising there are no lintles on the outer leaf, are the windows showing signs of bowing? personally i would get professional help installing a lintel for a 2.3m opening. i used 2" x 1/4" angle iron which did the trick , i also wedged it in at both ends to prevent it falling out.