Hi all have an old council house where glass pane in over door look. Thinking of boarding over etc. Want to replace the arcs also. Not sure wether to plant timber on or trim above door way back. Anyone done this x
Called a storey light. Unless you want to get it plastered its tough to get an jnvisible join. Problem is the frame for the door and light usually went in as one so the framing for the light is flush with the plaster finish. What i tend to do is cut the frame back below the surface with a multitool and then board the glazed area with 9mm green Mdf flush with the plaster and then 2 pack filler the point the mdf meets the plaster. Awkward job. Stick some celotex or rockwool where the glass is (usually no need to take glass out) as it can be a bit like a drum!
I wouldnt touch the frame at all. I would cut a board so it fits inside the frame up against the glazing bead, so you screw or pin your board into the glazing bead. Make sure the boards thickness wont come proud of the frame, 9-12mm board will do. You want a lip from the face of the board and the edge of the frame otherwise it will crack once painted.
But if you do that you will have original plaster finish butting up against timber frame butting up against new board surely? It will be a very obvious interaction. If you trim the frame back you get new board meeting old plaster finish. Done right that will be much less obvious.
Bear in mind that the windows have a purpose. They are to light dark areas, so they let light ( say ) from a bright bedroom in to a dark hallway. It's actually a pretty difficult job. The main problem you will get is messing with the frame may compromise it, so you have to be prepared to replace it if things go wrong. I mean I normally remove the architrave, chisel off a quarter of an inch of the frame that will be lost under plaster, inset pieces of plasterboard over the glass ( Leaving the glass in place ) then plaster over the lot, cut the architrave down to fit the smaller doorway. It's a lot of work to get rid of them, but having said that they are pretty awful so I can see why you want to.
I’m diy and done three of these at my sisters house (ok, just three in my lifetime so not saying I’m a world renowned expert) Removed glass, cut frame, replaced head, battened opening and PB both sides, set back approx 3mm from wall, ready for plasterer (that I can’t do), replaced architrave and painted wall and timber Perfect finish, no sign of there ever being a borrowed light above door Sorry but this ain’t a difficult job for either a pro or confident diy’er, just basic skills and enlist a plasterer May have some pictures if I can find later incase anyone doubts my comments (although I wouldn’t really care) and may help the op Lunch time soon .... Fathers Day...... enjoy dads and hope you all get looked after
I am sure it looks great. But I would want to avoid cutting the entirety of frames out in customers houses wherever I can. Not least because you never know what may be sitting on top, clipped pipes, cables, joined joists etc. I also want to avoid getting a spread in if I can. Your way I am sure look the business but it is a lot more involved than trimming the frame back and fitting a single piece of board. I have done so many of these I have lost count. There are a couple of huge estates nearish to me with metric doors, ranch style balustrades, storey lights and squeaky landings! Whilst I could have removed everything and started from scratch everytime, doing it with minimum disruption is better for me. Plus it needs just a bit of insulation and a small bit of board. And next to no waste. Its a couple of hours work and leaves the customer simply needing to paint the panel. Same end result but just a different approach.
In my house, some numpty had ripped out the original balustrades and replaced it with ranch style. It was changed over very promptly when my wife caught our grandson "fishing" on the landing into the stair well while standing on the top rail
Horrid arrangement for stairs. Often bizarrely they are genuine teak however. I have a little stash in the workshop!
I know it was bizarre. The was a lady on here a few years ago posted about what to replace her "ranch" balustrades. She was going to dump her teak boards then I pointed out about selling them. If I recall she got quite a good return on them that paid for some of the work she needed.