Brick up external door, knock through small internal wall

The main costs for this work (assuming the internal wall is load bearing) will be for bricking up the existing doorway, installation of the window, creating the opening as well as decoration work. A rough price will be around 2-5k however this depends on the size of the openings, the level of decoration, style of window etc. Also, if the internal wall is load bearing, there will be an increase in cost due to structural work.

This type of work is usually possible, but it needs to be checked properly before a price can be confirmed. The first thing would be to confirm whether the internal wall is definitely non-load bearing, and also check for any plumbing, electrics, drainage or heating pipes in the area where the opening is going. Even small internal walls can sometimes carry loads or contain services, so I would not advise knocking through until it has been inspected.

Bricking up the external doorway and fitting a small window should be straightforward in most cases, but the new brickwork would need to be tied into the existing wall properly, insulated where required, made weatherproof, and finished neatly inside and outside. A suitable lintel may also be needed above the new window opening, depending on the existing structure and the size of the window.

For the knock-through into the adjoining room, the cost would depend on the wall construction, whether a lintel or support is needed, how much making good is required, and whether any services need moving. Since you have mentioned there may already be plumbing and electrics in the room, those would need to be tested and altered safely by the correct trades if required.

As a rough guide, this could range from a smaller job if the wall is definitely non-load bearing and services are minimal, to a more involved project if structural support, window fitting, insulation, plastering, electrics or plumbing alterations are needed. The best next step would be a site visit to inspect the walls, check access, confirm the structure, and then provide a proper fixed quote.

Hi as a rough guide materials and labour £4,750 subject to inspection for the non load bearing wall if it is load bearing an engineer will be involved for calculations and a steel will have to be installed kind regards Spencer

If the wall is non-load bearing, the job is usually straightforward: brick up the external door, add a window, knock through internally, and make good the finishes. Typical cost is around £2,000–£5,000 depending on the work needed.

This is all fairly straightforward work but involves a few different trades, so best handled as one small project.
Bricking up the external door would involve removing the existing doors and frame, building up the opening with block/brick, tying it into the existing wall, then externally finishing to match (roughcast/render) and internally plastering. Adding a window in place is also possible at the same time.
Knocking through the internal wall is usually straightforward if it’s non-load bearing, but that would need checked first. If it is load bearing, a lintel would be required. Once opened up, it would be framed out, lined and finished ready for a door or open access.
As you’ve mentioned there’s already plumbing and electrics in the space, these may need altered or extended depending on your final layout.
Rough ballpark: • Brick up external door & make good: £800–£1,500
• Small window supply & install: £400–£800
• Knock through & form opening: £500–£1,200
• Plastering & finishing: £300–£800
Prices can vary depending on finishes and access, but it’s definitely a manageable job and something we do regularly.

Converting an external store room that is within the main walls of a house into a habitable space is a popular project that significantly increases usable space without a full extension. Based on similar projects in the UK, this work involves bricklaying, structural changes, and upgrading internal services

This type of work is quite common but would need to be assessed properly on site before starting.

Bricking up the external door and installing a small window is straightforward. It would involve matching the existing brickwork, installing a suitable lintel if required, and ensuring proper insulation and damp protection.

For knocking through the internal wall, it’s important to first confirm whether it is load-bearing. If it is non-load bearing, the work is relatively simple. If it is load-bearing, a structural support such as a lintel or steel beam (RSJ) will be required, and this may need building control approval.

Making good internally would include plastering, finishing, and ensuring electrics and plumbing are safely adjusted if needed.

Costs can vary depending on structure, materials, and access, but I would always recommend a site visit to give an accurate quote and check everything properly before work begins.

- Work involved: Brick up external access + install window, knock through internal wall (after confirming it's non-load bearing), finish internal areas, and upgrade plumbing/electrics to meet regulations.
- Total estimated cost: £4,000–£8,800 (before VAT).
- Key steps: Get structural survey, apply for building regs approval if needed, hire qualified tradespeople.

Work involved
Remove existing timber doors and frame
Build up the opening with matching brick/block
Install a small window (likely uPVC or aluminium)
Insulate the cavity if needed
Make good internally (plasterboard + skim)
Things to check
Matching bricks (or close match)
Window position and size (needs to meet ventilation + light requirements)
Cavity wall insulation continuity
Rough cost
Brick up opening: £800–£1,500
New window supplied & fitted: £400–£800
Internal making good: often included, or £200–£400Total: £1,200–£2,500

Brick up the external door and fit a small window = remove frame, infill cavity wall properly (ties/insulation/DPC/cavity tray as needed), likely a lintel, then plaster/make good.

Knock through internally = easy if non-load-bearing; if load-bearing you’ll need a lintel/RSJ + Building Control.

Typical UK ballpark:
• Door infill + small window: £1.5k–£4k
• Internal opening: £300–£1k (non-load) / £1.5k–£4k+ (load-bearing)
• Making good/finishes/services: £500–£3k+

Total: often £3k–£10k, higher if steel/complex finishes.

What you’re describing is a fairly common and very achievable alteration, especially if the room already has services. Below is a clear breakdown of the scope of work, permissions, and typical UK costs so you can budget realistically before purchase.

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1. Brick up the external doors & add a small window

Work involved
• Remove timber doors and frame
• Brick/block infill to match existing wall (or rendered to suit)
• Install cavity insulation and damp-proof course (important)
• Fit a new window (uPVC or aluminium)
• External making good (brick match or render)
• Internal plastering where required

Indicative cost
• Brick up opening: £600 – £1,200
• New window supplied & fitted: £300 – £800
• Making good (inside & out): usually included or £200 – £400

Total: £1,100 – £2,200

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2. Knock through internal wall from coat room

Key checks first
• Confirm whether the wall is load-bearing
• Non-load-bearing = simpler and cheaper
• Load-bearing = steel (RSJ) required + structural engineer

If non-load-bearing
• Remove wall section
• Form doorway/opening
• Make good walls, ceiling, skirting

Cost (non-load-bearing):
• £500 – £1,200

If load-bearing
• Structural engineer: £250 – £500
• Steel beam supply & install: £1,200 – £2,500
• Making good & plastering: £500 – £800

Total (load-bearing): £2,000 – £3,800

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3. Making good internally (finishing works)

Assuming you want it to feel like a normal internal room:

Likely works
• Plastering walls/ceiling
• Flooring to match or complement house
• Adjust electrics (sockets, lighting)
• Boxing in or properly finishing plumbing
• Decorating

Typical costs
• Plastering: £400 – £800
• Electrical tidy-up: £200 – £500
• Plumbing alterations (if needed): £200 – £600
• Flooring: £300 – £1,000
• Decorating: £300 – £700

Total: £1,400 – £3,600

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4. Services already present (big cost saver)

The fact that there’s:
• Electricity
• Plumbing (washing machine & fridge)

…is excellent news. This usually means:
• Less chasing of walls
• Lower electrician/plumber costs
• Faster completion

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5. Permissions & compliance (UK)

Planning Permission
• Usually NOT required
• As long as you’re not changing the building footprint
• Window addition is typically permitted development

Building Regulations (IMPORTANT)

You will need Building Control approval for:
• Wall removal
• New window
• Change from “external store” to habitable/internal space
• Insulation, ventilation, fire safety

Building Control cost: £200 – £400

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6. Timescale
• Design & approvals: 1–3 weeks
• Construction: 1–2 weeks (longer if steel required)

Hi

The wall that needs to be removed would need to be assessed by a competent contractor who then can advise you if a structural engineer would be needed to assess and provide calculations assuming it needs it this would cost anywhere between £600-£1600 for structural assessment, if it wasn’t a load bearing wall to make the room habitable could potentially cost anywhere between £1-2k

Depending on your location we can take a look for you?

This a fairly straightforward alteration provided the internal wall is genuinely non-lad-bearing, but it involves several trades and you should budget a few thousand pounds rather than hundreds

This type of work is quite common and very achievable, as long as it is done correctly.
To brick up the external door, the existing door and frame would be removed first. The opening would then be built up using blocks or bricks to match the existing wall, tied into the surrounding masonry for strength. Insulation and a damp-proof barrier would be included where required. A small window can be installed at the same time, with a proper lintel above it, and the external finish (brickwork or render) matched as closely as possible. Internally, the wall would be plastered ready for painting.
For knocking through the small internal wall, the wall would first be checked to confirm whether it is load-bearing. If it is non-load-bearing, the opening can be formed without major structural work. If it is load-bearing, a suitable lintel or beam would need to be installed for support before removing the wall section. The opening would then be made good and plastered for a neat finish.
Any existing plumbing and electrical services would need to be checked and possibly adjusted to suit the new layout, but the fact that appliances are already in use is a good sign.
Overall costs will depend on wall thickness, finishes, window size, and whether structural support is required, but this would generally be considered a small to medium building project.

Bricking up the external door
• The door would be removed and the opening bricked/blocked to match the existing cavity wall (not just single skin).
• Proper cavity insulation, DPC, and wall ties are needed to avoid damp issues.
• Externally it should be toothed in and pointed to match; internally plastered.
• Adding a small window is no problem structurally.

I would support the external wall with strong boys to begin, remove the wooden doors and frame then proceed to brick up the opening outside. Then we would block the inside (assuming it's a cavity wall). Once that is done, we would use strong boys again to support the interior wall before knocking an opening out and installing a concrete lintel (better to be safe than sorry!) once that's done there will be some bonding/floating/dot and dabbing followed by finish plaster

The work involves two main projects, each requiring professional input for safety, compliance, and execution. The total estimated cost for the work described in the UK ranges from approximately £1,700 to over £5,000+, depending heavily on material choices, the complexity of structural work, and the extent of "making good".

Here’s a practical breakdown of what’s typically involved in

? 1. Bricking up the external door & adding a window Work involved Remove the existing external doors. Build a new brick/block wall to infill the opening. Tie the new wall into the existing masonry. Add insulation and damp-proofing as required. Fit a new small window (uPVC is most common). Render or brick-match externally. Make good internally: plasterboard, plaster skim, paint. Estimated cost Item Approx Cost (UK) Brick/block infill of door opening £800–£1,800 Small uPVC window fitted (600–900 mm) £300–£700 Internal finishing & plastering £200–£500

Total: £1,300–£3,000

Cost varies depending on how well the new brickwork needs to match the existing façade.

? 2. Knocking through the small internal wall Work involved Confirm the wall is non-load-bearing. A structural surveyor or builder can verify this (?£100–£250). Remove plasterboard or lightweight blockwork. Adjust electrics or plumbing if present. Form a finished opening with a door frame, or leave open-plan. Make good both sides: plastering, skirting, decorating. Cost if non-load bearing Work Approx Cost Wall removal £300–£700 Making good & decorating £200–£500 If adding a door £150–£500

Total: £500–£1,500

If the wall is load-bearing You’ll need a structural engineer (SE calcs: £150–£300). A steel/RSJ install may be required.

Total could rise to £1,500–£3,000, but many internal partition walls in side rooms are non-load-bearing.

? 3. Making good internal areas

Depending on the intended use (store ? utility, or store ? living space), this may include:

Possible requirements Flooring replacement/levelling: £200–£800 Insulation upgrades if the room was unheated: £200–£600 Skirting boards, painting, finishing: £200–£500 Lighting/electrical additions: £150–£400 Plumbing adjustment (if using as laundry/utility): £150–£600

Total typical range: £500–£2,000

???? 4. Plumbing & electrics considerations

Since there’s already a fridge and washing machine:

There’s likely a cold feed, waste pipe, and at least one socket. A proper utility conversion might require: Additional sockets Upgrading to RCD-protected circuits Boxing-in or re-routing exposed pipework

Low-end: £150
High-end: £800–£1,200 (if upgrading electrics more substantially)

???? ???? Grand Total (typical range)

Minimum realistic (non-load-bearing wall, basic finish):
???? £2,000–£4,000

More typical for a nice-quality internal utility conversion:
???? £4,000–£7,000

High-end or load-bearing surprises:
???? £7,000–£10,000

???? Other Things to Check Building Regulations Knock-through: needs to comply with structural and fire regs. Changing an unheated store into a habitable room may require insulation upgrades to meet thermal requirements. Damp-proofing
Store rooms sometimes lack a proper DPC or insulation. Ventilation
Especially if you plan to keep a washing machine inside. Matching external brickwork
Can affect cost if difficult to blend.

If you want, I can also:

Estimate more precise costs based on room dimensions Suggest how to lay out the new space Advise on dealing with builders/quotes

Would you like a more detailed breakdown or a sample plan?