How to Open a Doorway in a Brick Wall

Brick walls are often structural, load-bearing elements. To make a doorway in a load-bearing wall, certain reinforcements must be made to preserve its integrity. Opening new doorways in your existing brick wall requires cutting the hole, diverting the downward pressure of the structure above the doorway and framing the new opening. Brick is a particularly sturdy building material, which will require heavy equipment to cut and a good understanding of the process to do the job right.

Tape measure
Level
Chalk
Canvas drop cloths
Angle grinder
Circular saw
Masonry blade
Hammer
Chisel
Steel lintel
Mortar
Trowel
Face mask
Protective eye goggles

Instructions

- 1
  Request the assistance of your local building authorities or another qualified expert to determine that your doorway location is not structurally dangerous. As a rule, a doorway should be more than 4 feet away from any corners.
- 2
  Measure and record the size of your door frame width and height. Add 3 inches to the width to account for the studs that will line your door frame when installed. Use your chalk and level to draw an outline of the opening you intend to cut on the wall.
- 3
  Remove any wall covering, including drywall, paneling or whatever the interior side of your brick wall is finished with. You can cut the existing wall treatment to fit the new doorway, or you can remove it all and rebuild around the doorway opening. At the same time, inspect your wall and the area around it for electrical or phone lines or other important features that may be damaged or cut during the hole making procedure. If your brick wall is without treatment, move ahead with the process.
- 4
  Lay a canvas drop cloth on both sides of the wall. Use your angle grinder or heavy duty circular saw with mortar blade to cut a 2-by-2 foot square hole at the center of your chalk outline. Push the cut section of bricks through the wall to open up the initial hole. Use your hammer to knock out the bricks around the initial hole, up to your chalk lines. If the chalk line crosses the center of a brick, knock the brick out. You will fill in the gaps later with brick halves. Do your best not to damage the bricks you remove.
- 5
  Slide the door frame into the opening you have made to see that it fits properly. If it does, move on with the process. If not, make adjustments where necessary.
- 6
  Use your hammer and chisel to knock out the mortar just above the highest brick on both sides of the opening. These two end slots will accept the edges of your steel lintel. Place the lintel in position and use your hammer to insert it fully. Cover the ends of the lintel with mortar and allow it to dry.
- 7
  Install your trimmer studs and header before inserting the door frame.

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