We are considering buying a 10-year-old ranch-style brick house, which
has relatively small windows. I don't like this- it's not enough light
in the house. Therefore, I got an idea to remove a few old windows,
enlarge the openings and install new, bigger windows.

Questions a Is it possible to do it at all and if yes, how
expensive could it be? I have an impression that enlarging the
opening in the brick wall, i.e. removing some of the existing breaks
that surround the existing opening, might be impossible from the
structural point of view. I don't have any experience in things like
this, so I'll need to hire a professional. How much could it cost?

TIA,

Andrei

Very expensive.


"Andrei" wrote in message
m...
We are considering buying a 10-year-old ranch-style brick house,
which
has relatively small windows. I don't like this- it's not enough
light
in the house. Therefore, I got an idea to remove a few old windows,
enlarge the openings and install new, bigger windows.

Questions a Is it possible to do it at all and if yes, how
expensive could it be? I have an impression that enlarging the
opening in the brick wall, i.e. removing some of the existing breaks
that surround the existing opening, might be impossible from the
structural point of view. I don't have any experience in things
like
this, so I'll need to hire a professional. How much could it cost?

TIA,

Andrei

"Andrei" wrote in message
in the house. Therefore, I got an idea to remove a few old windows,
enlarge the openings and install new, bigger windows.

Questions a Is it possible to do it at all and if yes, how
expensive could it be?

Can be done. All it takes is time and money.

Making a window larger by going longer (down) is easier and cheaper than
going wider. To go wide, you have to add a larger lintel over top to carry
the load. Not something easily done by a new DIY kind of guy. Brick must
be cut, some must be put back after the lintel, etc.
Ed

(Andrei) wrote in message om...
We are considering buying a 10-year-old ranch-style brick house, which
has relatively small windows. I don't like this- it's not enough light
in the house. Therefore, I got an idea to remove a few old windows,
enlarge the openings and install new, bigger windows.

Questions a Is it possible to do it at all and if yes, how
expensive could it be? I have an impression that enlarging the
opening in the brick wall, i.e. removing some of the existing breaks
that surround the existing opening, might be impossible from the
structural point of view. I don't have any experience in things like
this, so I'll need to hire a professional. How much could it cost?

TIA,

Andrei

In SE MI the going cost to have a window replaced is about $700-$800
in an existing opening. This would be a national name brand wood
window such as Pella, Marvin, Eagle and the window custom fit to the
existing opening. Vinyl would be approx. half of that. To do the job
you're considering would require much masonry work as well as
reframing the opening and some refinish of the interior surface.
Without looking, you may be in to $1500 or more per opening.