what sort of window here?

[skier-hughes]

As I have nearly finished the kitchen and nearly finished the bedroom, I thought it was time to start on the bathroom!!!

I was at the planning stage, swiftly followed by the demolishing stage.........

Here is the window dilema. The wall is possibly 18" thick, probably an original single brick skin on the outside with what could be a cavity between it and the inner skin. I say could be, as at the moment it is full of debris.

My idea is to put two small windows into the recesses you can see from the outside. The problem is, I had hoped to see the central pillar come all the way through, but it looks like it might just be a point on the outside and an open brick V on the inside. I've not taken enough bricks away yet to be sure.

So, if it is, do I plaster the internal V, fill and plaster the two wall returns and put a nice big sill on it?

 

[CatherineB]

Wow Graham, it looks like you've got'em all stumped!

I do think the outside view looks lovely, and would vote for retaining that, so putting in two little windows as you suggest.
Depending on how wide and deep the V is on the inside, is there any chance you could make a feature niche of it, or is that too twee for words?!

As to the how - er, that's where I revert to GSI (get someone in) rather than DIY

 

[piper]

The outside looks so nice as it is, with the old brickwork, it seems a pity to do anything at all - rather provide the light through a discreet skylight or sunpipe. However, if it were mine and I really wanted the window I would do as you propose - two small and absolutely plain windows, with narrow (oak?) frames, though what wood and whether painted or not should depend on what the other windows are like. Maybe so plain they don't even open. You could even go for an "honest barn conversion" style of having just glass visible from outside, set directly against the brick with the minimum frame necessary. If you need to have an opening casement, perhaps just one of them opening. Inside, your proposal seems right.
The interesting thing about your external picture is that the bit on the right with the window looks like a small extension - but older than the house it's built on to. The brickwork on the left looks Victorian, and on the right it must be much older. From the interior picture, if what we see on the left is the end gable wall, at a right angle to the window wall, surely you have to go quite a bit further to right before you get to the window opening? Isn't that the end of the lintel just visible on the right of your hole?

 

[Flyfisher]

We have a right old mix of small windows, some blocked, some original-looking and some added later. None have a brick or stone mullions though. Assuming the room is 'right' for the window to be reinstated, I agree with the two small oak framed windows idea with a deep window sill.

These photos might be helpful:

 

[Flyfisher]

and a couple more . . .

 

[Penners]

I really like that brick mullion, Graham. I do hope you'll keep it. A small window on each side of it would seem to be the right solution, and would be broadly sympathetic with the mix of other windows in the house.

The only thing I'm a bit worried about is the apparent lack of a lintel under the rowlock course of bricks above that mullion, across the top of the external view of the window. The existing infill is probably providing them with some support, but when you remove the infill they would seem to be risk of collapse.

 

[biffvernon]

It's a short span - nothing that the top of a half decent window frame couldn't cope with. You just have to provide some support whilst doing the work.

 

[skier-hughes]

Sorry been away doing mediation training

The bricks to the left are a chimney stack.

I'll put up a fuller picture of the outside area tomorrow. I'll also have time to take more brick out from inside to see what is where and how the mullion actually looks.

Off again now,

Cheers for the thoughts.

Graham

 

[skier-hughes]

inside has a nice shaped mullion as well, as you can now see, as I have taken out more bricks. The window is lower than I first thought.

 

[Penners]

Interesting - it's difficult to make out what the inside of the mullion is made of, Graham. The outside is obviously brick - does the view above also show brick, perhaps with a skim of something on it to make it look monolithic? Or is it wood (or stone), faced on the outside with brick?

 

[skier-hughes]

I'm thinking it is plastered, but I may be wrong, I need to get some support in for the right hand side before removing the bricks and then I can get right in to see. Also, don't want to disturb the filling too much, as there is already a big hole in it, don't want it all falling out just yet