French Doors

[Ron]

Hi I am thinking of removing a window in my lounge and replacing it with French doors opening on to my back garden patio. Do I need permission from the council to do this? I am in Scotland if that makes any difference. Also all of my windows are wood framed double glazing but I was thinking of getting wood effect PVC to avoid maintenance. I use Ronseal on the window frames and soffit boards etc every couple of years. So would I be just as well getting wooden doors and frames?

I was thinking of getting Weatherseal to give me a quote then telling them to **** off and waiting for them to hassle me and getting the price down. I will also get a couple of local companies to quote and play them off against each other to get the price down.

In case you are wondering about Weatherseal I once worked for them in the distant past when I was made redundant and know all their tricks etc. I only ever sold one window in 4 weeks as I was not very good but I know how they work and they will even fit the doors at cost just to get a sale and their sign stuck in your garden for a couple of months. That I can live with.

I would imagine, from what I can remember, I could get them down to £600 but then I have no idea what other companies would charge. Someone told me they got quoted £1000 for similar French doors.

I am sure I have a scanned copy of their price list somewhere but I will have to search through a load of backup cds.

The window is 4 feet wide and the wall is the usual cavity brick and breeze block and plaster the house constructed in 1991.

Thanks Ron

[r.p.mcmurphy]

i have a local joiner knocking me up a pair of french doors to replace a 4 foot window as we speak. he is charging £350. for hardwood. a proper job. i will prime, undercoat, top coat and fit it myself. then i have to buy and fit the glass. price is probably on a par with Upvc. if you had some one do it all for you.

steve

[Chris Bacon]

They're French Windows, unless they're ordinary doors imported from France. Paired glazed opening "French windows", often wrongly called doors.

Probably, but if no pen-pushers know that there are none at the moment, I wouldn't bother.

It's likely to be cooler, in general.

Timber doors are more secure, and look nicer IMO. You should have rack bolts and hinge bolts fitted.

Seems OK.

Um, is that a 4' opening? You'll probably want a frame which you can make of PAR softwood, nail on door stops, finish inside with one or two rows of architrave, 3 prs. hinges, 2prs. hinge bolts, 2 prs. rack bolts, 1 pr. 40" French Windows (Jewson or someone), 1 sash deadlock + rebate kit, 2 prs. handles of some sort, 2 cabin hooks.