A brick wall doesn’t mean your dreams of new windows will crumble
Brick walls are thick and sturdy, making it difficult to install new windows.
This isn’t a project to DIY unless you have extensive masonry skills.
Skip calling a window contractor here—you’ll need a licensed mason.
Natural, exposed brick can add warmth, character, and texture to any home, but brick walls can also darken an indoor space. One way to invite in natural light is with a window. But can you add windows to a brick house? Yes, but it’s not a project to tackle yourself. The slightest mistake could lead to damaged walls.
While many home improvement projects are DIY-suitable, cutting into brick is best left to a licensed pro with the proper brick-cutting tools and specialized training to ensure safety and success. Let’s shed some light on why you need a masonry contractor for your project.
Hiring a licensed masonry contractor near you to cut a window into a brick wall ensures the success of your window installation. Due to brick’s fragile makeup, there are many issues that can go wrong, such as crumbling and cracking brick walls. Here are six reasons why you need to call a masonry contractor to cut and install your window.
Masonry contractors will perform a proper window installation, preventing any moisture from infiltrating the home.
To avoid major safety issues, masons will ensure the area on top of your window is supported properly with a steel lintel.
You won’t risk getting injured while working with a heavy-duty angle grinder.
A masonry contractor will properly dispose of the materials left behind.
Masons will adhere to the required city building codes.
Masonry contractors prevent homeowners from getting fined for doing masonry work without a permit.
Simply put, this project should not be attempted by anyone other than a professional mason. To cut a window into a brick wall, you need a contractor license, a permit, and a working knowledge of local building codes. Not to mention the know-how of structural load capacities for brick arches and steel lintels, which support the weight of the structure. If the brick is cut incorrectly, it could jeopardize the structural integrity of the wall.
While a general contractor or a window contractor can install windows in latex, fiberglass, acrylic, and faux brick, it takes the specialized skills of a masonry contractor to cut into brick and reinforce the building. Although a local window contractor holds a contractor license, they risk cracking the brick or, at worst, collapsing the wall if they don’t cut or support the structure properly. Instead, you should rely on professional, licensed masonry experts—the same pros you’d call to repair brick.
Now that we know who to hire for this type of project, let’s cover how a masonry contractor performs this type of project. Before they start, masonry contractors will assess the area to ensure the building can handle the load of a new window. They’ll also look for and remove any obstructions, including shrubbery, utilities, ductwork, or indoor wiring. If everything is good to go, they'll proceed with the following steps:
Measure and cut the brick with an angle grinder.
Penetrate the mortar layer between the bricks with an angle grinder, a hammer, and a chisel.
Remove the brick and install a steel lintel to support the load above the window.
Drill the appropriate amount of holes needed for window installation.
Insert and bolt down the window sill and the hold-fast clamps prior to embedding the hold-fasts into a concrete block.
When the cement block dries, the pro will clean off the dust, wet the surface, and plaster it with cement mortar to match the bordering plaster.
You can add any type of window to a brick house, so long as the window has proper support. Windows with wider openings and windows in brick walls will need a lintel to support the extra weight above the window frame. A lintel is a support beam that distributes the weight from above evenly around the window.
Adding a window to a brick house costs $3,100 to $10,575. Because you’ll need to make changes to the structure of the home, the cost will include obtaining permits and hiring the best pros for this complex job. Larger windows will cost more to install, and the cost can vary based on the window frame material you choose.
Yes, you can enlarge windows in a brick house. Your masonry contractor will need to cut away exterior brick to make space for the larger window, and you may also need to consult a structural engineer to make sure the window is properly supported inside the frame of the house.
Yes, adding windows adds value to a brick house. Homeowners don’t shy away from more natural light and an opportunity to get fresh air. Adding a window is particularly beneficial if you live in an area with good weather for much of the year or if your home has a nice view. Keep in mind that many older brick homes have historic wood windows that add to the charm of the house. When you install a new window in a brick house, you’ll want to find one that matches the aesthetic of the existing windows.
While windows increase a home’s value, how much they increase it can vary. It depends on the age of the home and the type of windows. You can expect about 70% to 85% return on investment (ROI) when adding a window to your home.
