Blocking a window up
Discussion
So we’ve just moved into our new house which needs quite a bit of renovation. We are doing it room by room and then hopefully in a few years have a large single storey extension put on the back.
I’m about to start our master bedroom and the room has 2 windows in, however one is where the bed is going to go and the window is pretty useless as just overlooks the neighbours property. Since moving in we’ve just had the curtains closed on it. So not going to miss it. Ideally I would like to brick it up, but I don’t like the idea of bricks not matching. So when we get the extension done there will be bricks that match the house that will have to come out from the outside wall so can use them.
However for now, and for a short-medium term fix I’m thinking of putting some frosted vinyl on the window and then creating a small stud wall, insulation and plaster-boarding it over it. My only concern is ventilation and the risk of mould. Would it be sensible to look for vents for the window? Is there anything else I need to be mindful of, or is it just a stupid idea altogether. Would be interested if anyone else has done something similar.
Thanks.
I’m about to start our master bedroom and the room has 2 windows in, however one is where the bed is going to go and the window is pretty useless as just overlooks the neighbours property. Since moving in we’ve just had the curtains closed on it. So not going to miss it. Ideally I would like to brick it up, but I don’t like the idea of bricks not matching. So when we get the extension done there will be bricks that match the house that will have to come out from the outside wall so can use them.
However for now, and for a short-medium term fix I’m thinking of putting some frosted vinyl on the window and then creating a small stud wall, insulation and plaster-boarding it over it. My only concern is ventilation and the risk of mould. Would it be sensible to look for vents for the window? Is there anything else I need to be mindful of, or is it just a stupid idea altogether. Would be interested if anyone else has done something similar.
Thanks.
I did similar with no problems.
A useless window on the driveway side of living room, the blind always closed.
I left the blind closed & refinished the inside first, as keen to get the room done!
A few months later, removed the upvc window from outside, cut it out with electric saw.
I already had enough matching (old stock) bricks from other work.
A friend, who used to be in the trade, insulated & bricked it up.
Perfect match.
A useless window on the driveway side of living room, the blind always closed.
I left the blind closed & refinished the inside first, as keen to get the room done!
A few months later, removed the upvc window from outside, cut it out with electric saw.
I already had enough matching (old stock) bricks from other work.
A friend, who used to be in the trade, insulated & bricked it up.
Perfect match.
Brad Smith said:
Thanks mate good to hear someone else has done the same. Did you do anything in regards to ventilation? I’m tempted to leave the window open but still locked in place. So there is the air circulation in there.
HiNo problem here, maybe I was lucky.
No vent on the window, closed.
essayer said:
If you’ve just moved in it might be worth seeing how hot it gets in summer - you might be grateful of the ventilation
We’re south west facing so the front is only in the sun for a few hours. Plus we have a triple size window still where we can open 4 windows so should be fine. xx99xx said:
You say the room has 2 windows. Assuming the other one can open, surely no issue with ventilation? Most bedrooms only have a window on one side.
If concerned, fit an air brick. I have one above the bed. Not sure why, that's just what the developers put in all of them.
I was thinking more behind the stud work, if it put insulation behind it I didn’t want it becoming too hot/ cold and ending up full of moisture. If concerned, fit an air brick. I have one above the bed. Not sure why, that's just what the developers put in all of them.
I temporarily blocked up a small secondary window in our bedroom by boarding over the inside and leaving the original window in place. Unfortunately the inner glass pane of the sealed unit then cracked and broke in the middle of summer. I assume it was something to do with a build up of heat between the temporary inner wall and the glass when the sun hit it directly. I replaced the sealed unit and put a curtain over the inside instead and it's been fine for a couple of year since. One day I'll get around to removing the window properly!
Trevelyan said:
I temporarily blocked up a small secondary window in our bedroom by boarding over the inside and leaving the original window in place. Unfortunately the inner glass pane of the sealed unit then cracked and broke in the middle of summer. I assume it was something to do with a build up of heat between the temporary inner wall and the glass when the sun hit it directly. I replaced the sealed unit and put a curtain over the inside instead and it's been fine for a couple of year since. One day I'll get around to removing the window properly!
That’s something I’m also worried about as the window is getting the sun during the morning. When you say you replaced the sealed unit for a curtain do you mean the window or the part you plasterboarded. I wonder if installing a trickle vent (mind doesn’t currently have them) and leaving it open may help. There also old windows so there is probably air coming through anyway. But wouldn’t want that happening or moisture being in there. Brad Smith said:
That’s something I’m also worried about as the window is getting the sun during the morning. When you say you replaced the sealed unit for a curtain do you mean the window or the part you plasterboarded. I wonder if installing a trickle vent (mind doesn’t currently have them) and leaving it open may help. There also old windows so there is probably air coming through anyway. But wouldn’t want that happening or moisture being in there.
I replaced the broken sealed glazing unit with a new one to keep the insulation properties, then replaced the intertior boarding with a curtain. Our situation might have been diffferent to yours though as the window wasn't in the way but we just didn't like it or need it. The main window into the room is huge and south facing anyway and the window I covered over was just a narrow slot one high up the side wall. We'd just moved into the house and rather than buying new curtains for both windows we thought we'd just cover it over from day one. After shelling out for a replacement glazed unit we decided that curtains weren't such a bad idea after all! The window in question was on a West facing wall in the South of England so the afternoon sun hit it directly, In retrospect I imagine it got pretty hot!
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