Raising Door Frame Height Options

tntcoder · 22 May 2018 at 08:59

Hi,

I'm looking at an old cottage at the moment that is all great except for 1 of the upstairs doors, which is made for hobbits. It's really short with a curved wooden beam over the frame going into the brick work.

Door frame sort of looks like this, and it's quite a thick beam: https://i.imgur.com/5flN0fH.png

Does anyone know how feasible it might be to be have the door height raised by 3-4 foot and what sort of costs might be incurred? Assuming it's an important load bearing wall etc.

Thanks

sovietspybob · 22 May 2018 at 09:12

Nothing useful to add but surely that's just called character!

tntcoder · 22 May 2018 at 09:25

sovietspybob said:
Nothing useful to add but surely that's just called character!

Absolutely! It's lovely but it will really complicate getting furniture into two bedrooms unless entirely flat pack.

Scrutinize · 22 May 2018 at 10:48

@tntcoder those frames/arches are usually structural for the walls above and roof.

Raising them requires a fair bit of work and rsj support. This won't be cheap.

Is it a listed building as even internal works may require consent.

psd99 · 22 May 2018 at 15:22

probably best to take a decent builder/architect around there to take a look.

sounds like it might be costly to change

that door is that size for a reason.

DB_SamX · 24 May 2018 at 14:09

3-4ft is substantial! A builder should be able to do that for you. It will involve using "Strongboys" to prop the wall and floor/roof joists above, remove the timber beam, the wall above, then reinstall it (or a new modern lintel) higher.

There may be other structural implications, but impossible to say without knowing the bigger picture.