Door / Window close to corners of house

[diy_darren]

I'd read the relevant regulations, but no doubt I'd be more confused than when I started, so thought I'd ask instead

What are the rules concerning how close a window / door can be placed to the corner of a house?

The house is brick/block with a cavity so walls are around 25cm thick. Currently there is a window right next to the wall (with wall thickness, 25cm away from external corner of house), but I plan to change this for a door.

 

[noseall]

unless a s.e. can prove otherwise, we have always worked on three stretcher bricks from the corner or about 660mm.

 

[Deluks]

I seem to remember reading somewhere that it's 18", although that was a while back and I can't remember where I read it.

Don't you need fensa or regs to do this sort of thing anyway? Installer or bco will be best to advise.

 

[Richard C]

It gets a bit complicated as there is a formula which factors in the width of the opening & imposed loading, wall thickness etc. but the minimum is 665mm; this should be OK for 90% of applications. This only applies to new openings though, it won’t apply to existing unless there is change of buildings use; full story can be found in Part A Building Regs.

I would check with your local BC just to be safe, especially as your changing it to a door; fitting such a new external door (in most cases) is notifyable work unless you use a FENSA installer.

 

[diy_darren]

665mm, minus the 250mm wall thickness is about 415mm. Can anything be done to lessen this? Maybe a brick pillar 250mm x 250mm in the corner?

Installer or bco will be best to advise.

Yes, but they don't like getting involved to answer questions when I don't really know what I want What I can and can't do under the building regs. may completely change the overall plan (I want to do more than just add a door).

 

[noseall]

you need to speak to a structural engineer, maybe?

 

[Richard C]

665mm, minus the 250mm wall thickness is about 415mm. Can anything be done to lessen this? Maybe a brick pillar 250mm x 250mm in the corner?

That’s the regs. but, as I’ve already said, it only applies to new openings so you should be OK (as much as it ever was OK!) as the brickwork below, in theory, has no undue loading so removing it will have little or no effect; although it does provide some lateral restraint on the adjacent wall. A brick pillar so close to the adjacent cavity will create other problems & I think is a non starter.

Installer or bco will be best to advise.

Yes, but they don't like getting involved to answer questions when I don't really know what I want What I can and can't do under the building regs. may completely change the overall plan (I want to do more than just add a door).

I wouldn’t trust an installer or even some "so called", builders at all some will tell you anything to make their life easy & once they have your cash your left with the problem; ultimately the onus is on the householder to ensure any work thay have done complies with building regs.

You need to decide exactly what it is you want to do, if your planning other changes, it may completely change what’s already been advised. Building regs. are a fact of life & govern what we can & can’t do; if you can't/don’t want to read & understand them or are unsure, take the advice already given & consult with someone who does. BC will give advise once they know what you want to do &, as I’ve already said, I believe some of what your planning is notifyable anyway so you need bear that in mind; or you could just ignore it all & go ahead anyway!

 

[diy_darren]

OK, I'll create some rough drawings and start a new thread to ask for help. I'd appreciate some more guidance before paying for a structural engineer.

Thanks for the advice so far!

 

[Robert too]

Building regs require a return measured on the inside of 550 .

But an engineer would easily prove that less is ok .

 

[Richard C]

Building regs require a return measured on the inside of 550 .

But an engineer would easily prove that less is ok .

Robert
Can you advise where in the regs. you got that from? I'm not being argumentative as I am involved in similar work here & that’s not my understanding from Part ‘A’; it’s far from one of the easiest of the regs. to decipher & understand & I don’t want to make any mistakes!

 

[Robert too]

No problem Richard

I will try to sort it out over the holiday , I have had it come back a couple of times this last week

A site carpenter I know has just turned game keeper and is giving me a relatively hard tome at the moment and this is his baby for December

 

[Robert too]

Hi Richard , Christmas eve and I am reading the Building regs

Seems i need to challenge him on this , Wokingham BC have been hitting on this 550 all year , i suspect it comes from their interpretation of Diagram 12 .

But diagram 14 clearly shows the 665 external return

Thanks for the heads up , its good to read the regs once in a while

 

[Richard C]

Hi Richard , Christmas eve and I am reading the Building regs

Seems i need to challenge him on this , Wokingham BC have been hitting on this 550 all year , i suspect it comes from their interpretation of Diagram 12 .

But diagram 14 clearly shows the 665 external return

Thanks for the heads up , its good to read the regs once in a while

That's my understanding; please let me know how you get on; have a good one