Lintel/door frame fixing.

[trialscot]

I'm knocking an opening for a door in a single brick wall.
Existing door frames in the house have the top part built into the wall about 6" either side under the lintel.
Do I have to make the frame first then build it in like this or do I just bang it up after with hammerfixes ?.

 

[Richard C]

First confirm weather or not it’s a supporting wall & if it is, you will need a structural lintel in there & BC should be involved. If it’s not supporting anything above I would use a lump of 4” timber the same width as the blocks, let this into the blocks 6” either side of the door opening; it may be something similar to this you can see in the other doors.

It’s not worth the hassle making your own frames, you can buy them ready made for assembly at little more than a tenner each; they come in 2 different widths for 3inch & 4 inch block/brick walls. Cut the opening as accurate as you can to suit the frame & when fitting the frame, support it across the bottom to keep it square & parallel. Use packers locally either side of the frame fixings on the sides & top & position them so the door abutments will cover them. Fill any gaps between the frame & the blocks & plaster over level with the frame edge before fitting the architrave; hang the door & fit the abutments.

 

[trialscot]

Many thanks again.