On 04/10/10 19:46, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
ARWadsworth wrote:
When you are bricking up an external door are you supposed to "open
up" and expose the existing wall cavity or do you just brick up the
gap (with it's own cavity)?



You probably will find the cavity exists anyway on a modernish house
right up to the frame.

I would definitely open it up and remove alternate half bricks etc to
get a good continuos cavity and brick key. But then it would be my house.


Yes - it's not hard.

Angle grinder (really! ;- ) to cut the mortar between the half bricks,
and remove. You can key both sides in an hour or less. Hammer and
bolster would work too but not quite as quick.

Pack mortar in tight with a bit of wood on these when building up the
wall and it will be a very strong joint.

I did the same to extend a wall by a foot (also a door opening that was
moved along a bit).

Quick'n'dirty if I was a builder on a budget..

They will be... Metal strip if you're lucky (though that is a fairly
strong solution) or a couple of nails banged in if they are really cheap
*******s.