How To Brick In A Window Opening

I'm sharing all the details about enlarging a window in an existing wall including the process for installing larger windows, the price and the cease upshot.

I'chiliad always curious nearly how much renovation projects cost and have shared a bunch of other price breakdowns for specific projects we've tackled (cost to have woods floors installed, cost to replace gutters, cost to install a new front door versus but replacing the glass, etc.). So, hopefully this volition help out those of you who are curious about enlarging a window.

Earlier we dive in to the process to widen the window, permit'southward look at what the window wall looked like before!

Earlier Photo of Kitchen Window Size

After Photo of the Enlarged Window

enlarge window in the kitchen showing window above kitchen sink with dark cabinets and subway tile

I still pinch myself that our kitchen (see kitchen reveal for all sources) has come so far and, although it'due south not my dream kitchen, I appreciate and love it so much.

Afterwards nosotros started demo-ing the kitchen, I had the thought to have big windows installed. That would mean we needed to replace the window that was over the sink. To help visualize what it would look similar to enlarge the window, I used metallic tape and taped a window size that I liked on the wall. The window replacement size is shown below with the original windows yet in.

tape up on wall to decide on placement above sink and size

The original windows always bewitched me considering they weren't centered on the kitchen sink. One time we determined that we were going to replace the window in the existing wall, we knew that we wanted to have it centered at the same time.

Enlarging a Wall Window

The original window size was 38" x 36″ and the new window is seventy" x 36″.

We specifically wanted a window that would lucifer with the other windows in the home. I really liked the idea of a French casement. I thought that with French casement, we would be able to hand BBQ stuff in or out the windows and also peradventure add a bar on the outside of the window on the patio. And so, nosotros ordered a casement window (lots of details linked if you want to see the departure between window options) for the kitchen.

I volition say that at present that we've had the new window installed for 4+ years, the idea of the window being a pass-through and it actually acting as a pass-through don't really match upwardly. The counter and sink are in front of the window, then to reach through the window to hand something out to someone exterior, it's a bit of a reach and not very useful. That being said, I do think the French casement is pretty and I like how piece of cake they are to open to permit the breeze in, but I don't think I'd pay more for them knowing what I know now.

The process for widening the window is more intense than the process for merely replacing windows in a brick firm. Nosotros knew that going in simply weren't as prepared for information technology equally nosotros should have been.

Adding a support beam to kitchen ceiling while cutting into existing brick

Process for Enlarging a Window in a Brick House

Take out existing window
Take out drywall effectually window on the within
Put upwardly a back up beam on the within (shown above)
Have plumbing rerouted
Have electrical lines moved
Put header in
Add together 2×4 framing
Tack up plywood on the within to protect kitchen
Commencement working on taking out bricks to enlarge the window opening
Put new window in
Cut and identify brick to fit around new window
Mortar brick
Weatherproof window
Add drywall within around window
Seam, mud and finish drywall

This process was similar to the aforementioned process for enlarging the basement windows to put in two egress windows. If y'all've been thinking about having larger basement windows installed, I'd definitely recommend that project every bit well.

Putting the header and 2x4's in above sink in kitchen

Back to the wall windows! There were effectually three guys here doing the job each day and information technology took almost four days. A big majority of the fourth dimension was spent taking the existing brick out carefully. Apparently, our brick length and color can't be sourced, then each brick had to be chiseled out advisedly then that it could be reused. Since we were enlarging the window, nosotros didn't need all the bricks merely some broke as they were trying to dislodge them. Our exterior windows have a soldier style casement brick detail too, which uses a bit more than bricks than just a normal brick design.

Equally we were watching them take the brick out, they exposed so much of the exterior wall, that I asked how hard it would be to add together some outdoor sconces. Now, I know that it's super easy to add together electric outlets and sconces when you lot take exposed walls but I didn't back and then. I'thou happy to say that they told me that information technology was an easy job to practise and so I ran up to Lowe's and grabbed these modern patio lights. For under $15, they really can't be beat when you need a small modern patio sconce.

Price to Install a Window in an Existing Wall

We ordered a fiberglass window in the french casement style and it was just over $875.

Labor Price to Install Windows

The labor was right around $1400. This is in Missouri and was contracted out in 2018. The price to supersede a window for but the labor has probably gone up a bit since then.

Full Window Install Cost

Our full for this project came to $2275.

The toll did not include finishing the trim work on the inside of the window because that's something that we felt comfy doing ourselves and saving a bit of money on.

Here's a good article on window casement trim options if y'all are looking for more data on that.

Replacing Wall Windows

If you are because enlarging windows in your house, become for information technology! It was a big investment for us and 1 that nosotros but weren't sure nearly at the time. Honestly though, it's the focal point of our kitchen and the reason our modest kitchen feels light, vivid and big. Honestly, this is one of our best renovation decisions to dat

Like I mentioned earlier, since this project, we've enlarged our basement windows besides. We knew that the window enlargement made our kitchen feel so much bigger and more inviting and we wanted that same feeling in the basement. We are but equally happy with our larger basement windows, as well!

Cost to install a window in an existing wall

Is it expensive to supervene upon windows?

It can exist especially if you lot are going with making a wall of windows larger like we did. Standard window pricing if you lot are just replacing though tin can exist betwixt $275-$1200 per window. Information technology actually merely depends on what type of window you are looking to put in.

Instructions

i. Take out existing window
2. Have out drywall effectually window on the within
3. Put upwards a support axle on the within (shown above)
four. Have plumbing rerouted
5. Have electrical lines moved
6. Put header in
seven. Add together 2x4 framing
8. Tack up plywood on the inside to protect kitchen
ix. Start working on taking out bricks to enlarge the window opening
10. Put new window in
11. Cut and identify brick to fit effectually new window
12. Mortar brick
13. Weatherproof window
fourteen. Add together drywall inside around window
fifteen. Seam, mud and finish drywall

Notes

We ordered a fiberglass window in the french casement style and it was just over $875. The labor was right effectually $1400. Our full for this projection came to $2275.

The toll did not include finishing the trim work on the within of the window because that'due south something that we felt comfortable doing ourselves and saving a bit of money on.

If you want to see more kitchen details, cheque out the full kitchen reveal for all the details on the rest of the space.

If you want price breakdowns of other projects we've done, then check out some of these: