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| UK diy (uk.d-i-y) For the discussion of all topics related to diy (do-it-yourself) in the UK. All levels of experience and proficency are welcome to join in to ask questions or offer solutions. |
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Window through chimney breast
I was just reading the thread 'Things that make simple jobs hard' and that
reminded me to post this question. We're approaching the end of the kitchen refurb and a visiting friend said ' You know what you should do, you should put a window above the sink. Everybody says it's a good idea and we did in in our house and blah blah' so now I have to put a window above the sink, through an unused chimney breast. It'll be a small window (Wickes 40% off PCVu windows 620 wide x 1050 high) and I'll be going though a half brick breast and a full brick exterior wall (Victorian house) Quite happy to knock holes in walls and put lintels in. It'll be set more or less flush to the outside, so there'll be a deep internal ledge Anybody done this and can give me any advice? The flue will still need to be vented, so will it be better to do that through the wall above the opening or at the top of the boxing out (does that make sense?). Alistair |
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"Rob Morley" wrote in message
t... In article , "Ali Mac" says... I was just reading the thread 'Things that make simple jobs hard' and that reminded me to post this question. We're approaching the end of the kitchen refurb and a visiting friend said ' You know what you should do, you should put a window above the sink. Everybody says it's a good idea and we did in in our house and blah blah' so now I have to put a window above the sink, through an unused chimney breast. It'll be a small window (Wickes 40% off PCVu windows 620 wide x 1050 high) and I'll be going though a half brick breast and a full brick exterior wall (Victorian house) Just stick a TFT telly there instead of a window. or as an interior-designer friend of mine did, an aquarium. wasn't in the kitchen (living room), but looked stunning. the fish may get a little nervous being in the kitchen though, especially if you keep lobsters in it.... -- Richard Sampson mail me at richard at olifant d-ot co do-t uk |
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Rob Morley wrote:
In article , "Ali Mac" says... I was just reading the thread 'Things that make simple jobs hard' and that reminded me to post this question. We're approaching the end of the kitchen refurb and a visiting friend said ' You know what you should do, you should put a window above the sink. Everybody says it's a good idea and we did in in our house and blah blah' so now I have to put a window above the sink, through an unused chimney breast. It'll be a small window (Wickes 40% off PCVu windows 620 wide x 1050 high) and I'll be going though a half brick breast and a full brick exterior wall (Victorian house) Just stick a TFT telly there instead of a window. hmmm. cheaper - check choose any view you like - check always sunny outside - check instant fishtank - check can watch telly on it - check verdict - it's a winner !!! top idea  RT |
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#5
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Ali Mac wrote:
I was just reading the thread 'Things that make simple jobs hard' and that reminded me to post this question. We're approaching the end of the kitchen refurb and a visiting friend said ' You know what you should do, you should put a window above the sink. Everybody says it's a good idea and we did in in our house and blah blah' so now I have to put a window above the sink, through an unused chimney breast. It'll be a small window (Wickes 40% off PCVu windows 620 wide x 1050 high) and I'll be going though a half brick breast and a full brick exterior wall (Victorian house) Quite happy to knock holes in walls and put lintels in. It'll be set more or less flush to the outside, so there'll be a deep internal ledge Anybody done this and can give me any advice? The flue will still need to be vented, so will it be better to do that through the wall above the opening or at the top of the boxing out (does that make sense?). Alistair What about support for the chimney breast? Have you've still got the stack on the roof? Do you share the stack with next door? |
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Ali Mac wrote:
I was just reading the thread 'Things that make simple jobs hard' and that reminded me to post this question. We're approaching the end of the kitchen refurb and a visiting friend said ' You know what you should do, you should put a window above the sink. Everybody says it's a good idea and we did in in our house and blah blah' so now I have to put a window above the sink, through an unused chimney breast. It'll be a small window (Wickes 40% off PCVu windows 620 wide x 1050 high) and I'll be going though a half brick breast and a full brick exterior wall (Victorian house) Quite happy to knock holes in walls and put lintels in. It'll be set more or less flush to the outside, so there'll be a deep internal ledge Anybody done this and can give me any advice? The flue will still need to be vented, so will it be better to do that through the wall above the opening or at the top of the boxing out (does that make sense?). Alistair Stuart Noble wrote: What about support for the chimney breast? Have you've still got the stack on the roof? Do you share the stack with next door? a window into next door's fireplace ? is that what the OP wants ? pilkington K won't be enough to reflect the heat and upvc for the frame is out of the question. who will be responsible for cleaning the window ? RT |
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#7
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"Ali Mac" wrote in message ... I was just reading the thread 'Things that make simple jobs hard' and that reminded me to post this question. We're approaching the end of the kitchen refurb and a visiting friend said ' You know what you should do, you should put a window above the sink. Everybody says it's a good idea and we did in in our house and blah blah' so now I have to put a window above the sink, through an unused chimney breast. Unless you plan to spend long periods standing at the sink, there is usually not a lot of point in putting a window there. .... Quite happy to knock holes in walls and put lintels in. It'll be set more or less flush to the outside, so there'll be a deep internal ledge Anybody done this and can give me any advice? Not a window, but I did put the flue for a cooker hood through an old chimney breast. I suggest that you make sure the chimney has been really well swept before you start knocking holes in it. The flue will still need to be vented, so will it be better to do that through the wall above the opening or at the top of the boxing out (does that make sense?). If you put the vent into a horizontal surface, add a bit of ducting above the vent and fit an angle piece at the top, so that dirt cannot fall straight through and out of the vent. Colin Bignell |
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#8
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"nightjar .uk.com" nightjar@insert my surname here wrote in message ... "Ali Mac" wrote in message ... I was just reading the thread 'Things that make simple jobs hard' and that reminded me to post this question. We're approaching the end of the kitchen refurb and a visiting friend said ' You know what you should do, you should put a window above the sink. Everybody says it's a good idea and we did in in our house and blah blah' so now I have to put a window above the sink, through an unused chimney breast. Unless you plan to spend long periods standing at the sink, there is usually not a lot of point in putting a window there. Oh I disagree! Where else in a kitchen would you suggest putting window? Where else do you spend any time? At the cooker perhaps but it's not practical to have a window there. At the sink you need light, more often than not you're creating a shadow over the sink from the general room lighting. Having artificial light over the sink is necessary when the sun's gone down but natural light is far better than artificial light in every way. I've lived in four houses in my life, three had the sink at the window, one didn't. We only lived there for four years but I certainly wouldn't go back to a windowless sink, not even a screen or a fish tank would be a compensation. We have a small sink (rather than a silly washbasin) in the bathroom. It's next to the window but since the glass was pebbled it might as well have been anywhere in the room. Spouse removed the casements and installed a single double glazed window, it's now a delight to do anything there, we can see the garden, the birds, the sky ... It's probably a very personal preference but I'm sure I'm not unique, which is why there is a lot of point in having a window at a sink for many people. Mary |
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#9
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"Stuart Noble" wrote in message ... Ali Mac wrote: so now I have to put a window above the sink, through an unused chimney breast. It'll be a small window (Wickes 40% off PCVu windows 620 wide x 1050 high) and I'll be going though a half brick breast and a full brick exterior wall (Victorian house) Alistair What about support for the chimney breast? Have you've still got the stack on the roof? Do you share the stack with next door? Hi Stuart I'll put in an internal lintel to support the breast. The stack is joined, but through the party wall so that doesn't affect our plans. Alistair |
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#10
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"Rob Morley" wrote in message t... In article , "Ali Mac" says... SNIP so now I have to put a window above the sink, through an unused chimney breast. It'll be a small window (Wickes 40% off PCVu windows 620 wide x 1050 high) and I'll be going though a half brick breast and a full brick exterior wall (Victorian house) Just stick a TFT telly there instead of a window. Great idea on so many levels! I've got an old camcorder I could stick through the outside wall and link it up to make a virtual window. Now all I've got to do is come up with a problem so immense that the window idea is knocked on the head........ |
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#11
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"nightjar .uk.com" nightjar@insert my surname here wrote in message ... "Ali Mac" wrote in message ... SNIP so now I have to put a window above the sink, through an unused chimney breast. Unless you plan to spend long periods standing at the sink, there is usually not a lot of point in putting a window there. ... Quite happy to knock holes in walls and put lintels in. It'll be set more or less flush to the outside, so there'll be a deep internal ledge Anybody done this and can give me any advice? Not a window, but I did put the flue for a cooker hood through an old chimney breast. I suggest that you make sure the chimney has been really well swept before you start knocking holes in it. The flue will still need to be vented, so will it be better to do that through the wall above the opening or at the top of the boxing out (does that make sense?). If you put the vent into a horizontal surface, add a bit of ducting above the vent and fit an angle piece at the top, so that dirt cannot fall straight through and out of the vent. Colin Bignell Thanks Colin, your post made me realise that since I'm piercing the wall to run the extractor hood vent through to the outside, then I might as well vent it there. Or even both. Thansk for the tip about the angled ducting. Alistair |
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#12
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[news] wrote:
Ali Mac wrote: I was just reading the thread 'Things that make simple jobs hard' and that reminded me to post this question. We're approaching the end of the kitchen refurb and a visiting friend said ' You know what you should do, you should put a window above the sink. Everybody says it's a good idea and we did in in our house and blah blah' so now I have to put a window above the sink, through an unused chimney breast. It'll be a small window (Wickes 40% off PCVu windows 620 wide x 1050 high) and I'll be going though a half brick breast and a full brick exterior wall (Victorian house) Quite happy to knock holes in walls and put lintels in. It'll be set more or less flush to the outside, so there'll be a deep internal ledge Anybody done this and can give me any advice? The flue will still need to be vented, so will it be better to do that through the wall above the opening or at the top of the boxing out (does that make sense?). Alistair Stuart Noble wrote: What about support for the chimney breast? Have you've still got the stack on the roof? Do you share the stack with next door? a window into next door's fireplace ? is that what the OP wants ? Brain gone again! |
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#13
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Mary Fisher wrote: nightjar wrote "Ali Mac" wrote in message You know what you should do, you should put a window above the sink. We have a small sink (rather than a silly washbasin) in the bathroom. It's next to the window but since the glass was pebbled it might as well have been anywhere in the room. Spouse removed the casements and installed a single double glazed window, it's now a delight to do anything there, we can see the garden, the birds, the sky ... Have you been arrested yet for public indecency ? HTH Paul. |
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#15
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"Mary Fisher" wrote in message . net... .... Unless you plan to spend long periods standing at the sink, there is usually not a lot of point in putting a window there. Oh I disagree! Where else in a kitchen would you suggest putting window? My kitchen has work areas down both long sides, with the window in one end wall. Where else do you spend any time? At the cooker perhaps but it's not practical to have a window there. I probably spend most time in the food preparation area, which is next to the cooker. At the sink you need light, more often than not you're creating a shadow over the sink from the general room lighting. Having artificial light over the sink is necessary when the sun's gone down but natural light is far better than artificial light in every way. I don't recall the last time I needed to stand at the sink and, where I need light in the kitchen, I have local task lighting. Colin Bignell |
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Hi Alistair
We're approaching the end of the kitchen refurb and a visiting friend said ' You know what you should do, you should put a window above the sink. Don't you just love people who make helpful DIY suggestions? My sister in law once suggested removing a 10' long x 6' deep x 4' high raised bed and extending our patio............................................. Dave |
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#17
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On Tue, 7 Jun 2005 08:51:05 +0100, "nightjar" nightjar@insert my
surname here.uk.com wrote: "Ali Mac" wrote in message ... I was just reading the thread 'Things that make simple jobs hard' and that reminded me to post this question. We're approaching the end of the kitchen refurb and a visiting friend said ' You know what you should do, you should put a window above the sink. Everybody says it's a good idea and we did in in our house and blah blah' so now I have to put a window above the sink, through an unused chimney breast. Unless you plan to spend long periods standing at the sink, there is usually not a lot of point in putting a window there. I think the usual wisdom is the other way round. If you are turning a room into a kitchen, then the best place to put the sink is under a window because you need all the wall you can get in kitchens for other stuff and you can't put anything much over a sink. I don't think it follows that you have to put a window over the sink. ... Quite happy to knock holes in walls and put lintels in. It'll be set more or less flush to the outside, so there'll be a deep internal ledge Anybody done this and can give me any advice? Not a window, but I did put the flue for a cooker hood through an old chimney breast. I suggest that you make sure the chimney has been really well swept before you start knocking holes in it. The flue will still need to be vented, so will it be better to do that through the wall above the opening or at the top of the boxing out (does that make sense?). If you put the vent into a horizontal surface, add a bit of ducting above the vent and fit an angle piece at the top, so that dirt cannot fall straight through and out of the vent. Colin Bignell -- On-line canal route planner: http://www.canalplan.org.uk (Waterways World site of the month, April 2001) |
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"Nick Atty" wrote in message ... .... I think the usual wisdom is the other way round. If you are turning a room into a kitchen, then the best place to put the sink is under a window because you need all the wall you can get in kitchens for other stuff and you can't put anything much over a sink. The hot water / central heating boiler is over mine. I don't think it follows that you have to put a window over the sink. I think the idea comes from the fact that, before dishwashers, people would spend a lot of time at the sink, so needed something to look at. Colin Bignell |
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#19
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"Nick Atty" wrote in message Unless you plan to spend long periods standing at the sink, there is usually not a lot of point in putting a window there. I think the usual wisdom is the other way round. If you are turning a room into a kitchen, then the best place to put the sink is under a window because you need all the wall you can get in kitchens for other stuff and you can't put anything much over a sink. I don't think it follows that you have to put a window over the sink. I've NEVER seen a window under a sink. But hey, whatever turns you on ... Mary |
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#20
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"nightjar .uk.com" nightjar@insert my surname here wrote in message news:V-qdnb-- I think the idea comes from the fact that, before dishwashers, people would spend a lot of time at the sink, so needed something to look at. You - well, in this house we - still spend time at the sink. Washing dishes isn't the only activity there for many people, you know! And it's not a matter of NEEDING something to look at either, just preferring to look into the garden rather than a wall or shelves or a boiler or whatever. Mary Colin Bignell |
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Hi Colin
I think the idea comes from the fact that, before dishwashers, people would spend a lot of time at the sink, so needed something to look at. AFAIK its comes from just after WW2 when a huge house building project was started. The concept was; Dad at work, mum at home, children playing in garden. Mum could keep an eye on Janet & John whilst washing up, peeling spuds, whatever. That's also why the kitchen is at the back of most houses of that era. Dave |
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"David Lang" wrote in message .uk... Hi Colin I think the idea comes from the fact that, before dishwashers, people would spend a lot of time at the sink, so needed something to look at. AFAIK its comes from just after WW2 when a huge house building project was started. The concept was; Dad at work, mum at home, children playing in garden. Mum could keep an eye on Janet & John whilst washing up, peeling spuds, whatever. Oh what a load of ********. Mary |
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David Lang wrote:
AFAIK its comes from just after WW2 when a huge house building project was started. The concept was; Dad at work, mum at home, children playing in garden. Mum could keep an eye on Janet & John whilst washing up, peeling spuds, whatever. That's also why the kitchen is at the back of most houses of that era. More practically, the bathroom is usually at the back (because frosted glass windows don't look nice at the front of the house) so that's where the drains are, and having the kitchen sink under the window means the pipe can go straight through the wall and into a gully in the back yard. Owain |
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#24
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"Owain" wrote in message ... David Lang wrote: AFAIK its comes from just after WW2 when a huge house building project was started. The concept was; Dad at work, mum at home, children playing in garden. Mum could keep an eye on Janet & John whilst washing up, peeling spuds, whatever. That's also why the kitchen is at the back of most houses of that era. More practically, the bathroom is usually at the back (because frosted glass windows don't look nice at the front of the house) They don't look nice from inside the house either! But I've noticed that a lot of front porches are now being glazed with frosted glass. so that's where the drains are, and having the kitchen sink under the window means the pipe can go straight through the wall and into a gully in the back yard. That's more like it. Mary Owain |
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David Lang wrote:
Hi Colin I think the idea comes from the fact that, before dishwashers, people would spend a lot of time at the sink, so needed something to look at. They just preferred natural light. AFAIK its comes from just after WW2 when a huge house building project was started. The concept was; Dad at work, mum at home, children playing in garden. Mum could keep an eye on Janet & John whilst washing up, peeling spuds, whatever. Now mum and dad are both at work, Janet and John are at school (or "after school club") from 8 till 6, and the garden's overgrown. That's progress for you. |
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David Lang wrote: Hi Alistair We're approaching the end of the kitchen refurb and a visiting friend said ' You know what you should do, you should put a window above the sink. Don't you just love people who make helpful DIY suggestions? My sister in law once suggested removing a 10' long x 6' deep x 4' high raised bed and extending our patio............................................. Dave So, did you take the opportunity and bury her under it? Andrew |
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#27
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"David Lang" wrote in message o.uk... Hi Alistair We're approaching the end of the kitchen refurb and a visiting friend said ' You know what you should do, you should put a window above the sink. Don't you just love people who make helpful DIY suggestions? My sister in law once suggested removing a 10' long x 6' deep x 4' high raised bed and extending our patio............................................. Dave Too true, Dave On the basis that every challenge is an opportunity, I now know all about suitable lintels for solid brick walls. And I suppose that it will make the kitchen lighter, which was always a problem. Someone on another thread said that one benefit of DIY is that you can change and adapt and have more time to think things through, as you plod along, and that is definitely the case in this project. Once it's finshed it will be a really nice room. Now, who knows anything about built under cookers...............? Alistair |
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#28
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"Ali Mac" wrote in message news:ZEYpe.12102$cN2.1058@newsfe4- Someone on another thread said that one benefit of DIY is that you can change and adapt and have more time to think things through, as you plod along, and that is definitely the case in this project. I'll be reading everything you say, definitely ;-) Mary Alistair |
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#29
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"Ali Mac" wrote in message ... so now I have to put a window above the sink, through an unused chimney breast. It'll be a small window SNIP Why a window ? A Periscope would give a much superior view, and you wouldn't have to knock a hole through the wall. :-) John |
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#30
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"Oilierthanthou" wrote in message ... "Ali Mac" wrote in message ... so now I have to put a window above the sink, through an unused chimney breast. It'll be a small window SNIP Why a window ? A Periscope would give a much superior view, Pedantically, yes. and you wouldn't have to knock a hole through the wall. :-) But you need to peer at a pe(e)riscope to get the view. Mary John |
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