Medwyn was already an existing customer of The Window Company when he came back to us during a kitchen renovation at his home in Chorlton. Instead of simply replacing the existing single back door, he wanted to create a much wider opening for double French doors, bringing more natural light into the kitchen and improving access to the garden.
What makes the project particularly interesting is that it was not a straightforward door replacement. The brick opening itself had to be widened and structurally supported before the new doors could be installed, with our team then making good and plastering internally so the kitchen renovation could continue.
Project at a Glance
| Location | Chorlton, Manchester |
| Products Installed | Upgraded Elitis uPVC French doors; laminated security glass; 5-star anti-snap cylinder locks; Catnic lintel |
| Installer(s) | Steve and Ben |
| Installation Duration | Two days |
| Project Highlights | Returning customer; single doorway widened to a double-door opening; structural support installed; full internal making good and plastering; increased natural light and improved garden access |
The Customer Challenge
The existing opening at the rear of Medwyn's kitchen was only large enough for a standard single external door. During the kitchen renovation, he wanted to make that part of the room feel lighter and create a wider, more practical connection between the house and garden.
Achieving that meant more than changing the door. The brick opening had to be enlarged, and the structure above it needed to be assessed and properly supported. Because Medwyn had used The Window Company before and had already seen the standard of our work, he chose to come back to us to handle the whole alteration rather than arranging a builder and door installer separately.
Our Recommendation
Our surveyor visited the property, checked the existing structure and dimensions and confirmed that the alteration was possible. The recommended approach was to remove the existing single door, widen the opening, install the required structural support and then fit a new set of double French doors.
For the doors themselves, we used our upgraded Elitis uPVC specification. With the new design introducing a much larger glazed area, the installation also included laminated security glass and 5-star anti-snap cylinder locks. This allowed Medwyn to gain the extra light and access he wanted while keeping security an important part of the specification.
Installation Summary
The installation team removed the existing single back door and carefully opened up the surrounding brickwork to create the wider aperture needed for the French doors. A new Catnic lintel was installed above the enlarged opening to provide the necessary structural support before the new doors were fitted.
Once the French doors were in place, the work was made good internally and the door surround was plastered, leaving it ready for the next stage of the kitchen renovation. The complete alteration, from removing the original door and widening the opening through to fitting the doors and completing the internal making good, was finished in two days.
Medwyn's Google review specifically recognises Steve and Ben for the fitting work, describing the job and the internal finish in very positive terms.
The Finished Result
The finished installation completely changed this part of the kitchen. Replacing the original single door with double French doors substantially increased the amount of glass in the opening, helping bring much more natural light into the room.
Opening both doors also created far better access to the garden and a stronger connection between the kitchen and outside space. Just as importantly, Medwyn did not have to coordinate separate trades for the structural alteration, door installation and internal making good.
The project is a useful reminder that replacement windows and doors do not always have to fit into exactly the same openings that are already there. Where the property and structure allow it, an opening can sometimes be altered to create a solution that works much better for the home.
Before & After
What Our Customer Said on Google
“★★★★★
The Window Company have been amazing all the way through from start to finish.Steve and Ben have done an absolutely amazing job at fitting 2 new windows and our widening the back wall to fit a new patio door. They have finished the wall off inside really nicely too.
Couldn't have asked for a better job or a friendlier team. It's been a pleasure getting the work done by them.
Would 100% recommend and will always be using the Window Co for any future Doors and Windows needed.
(This is already the second time we've used the Window Co!)”
— Medwyn, Google Review
From Wayne
What made this project memorable for me was that Medwyn was already a customer of ours. We had carried out work for him before, so when he started renovating the kitchen and wanted to make a much bigger change at the back of the house, he came back to us rather than arranging the building work separately.
The main thing he wanted was quite simple: more light into the kitchen and better access to the garden. The existing single door was never going to give him that, so the right solution was not to replace it like-for-like but to look at whether we could safely create a much wider opening for French doors.
That is where the survey and experience really matter. Before ordering anything, we needed to confirm that the opening could be altered properly and understand the structural work involved. A new Catnic lintel was then installed as part of the job, so the larger opening was properly supported before the new doors went in.
Steve and Ben deserve recognition as well. Medwyn singled them out in his Google review, not only for the fitting itself but for how nicely the wall was finished inside. Completing the structural alteration, French door installation and internal making good in two days also meant the rest of his kitchen renovation could keep moving.
For anyone considering something similar, the main lesson is that you do not always have to accept the openings your home already has. If the structure allows it, changing the size of a door or window opening can make a much bigger difference than simply replacing the existing product. The important thing is making sure the structural side is assessed and completed properly.
For me, this project shows the value of taking responsibility for the whole job rather than just turning up to fit a door. Listening to what the customer wants, giving the right advice and carrying the work through properly from start to finish is what we have always believed in at The Window Company, and after nearly 40 years it is still the way we do business.
Products Used
- Upgraded Elitis uPVC French doors
- Laminated security glass
- 5-star anti-snap cylinder locks
- Catnic lintel for structural support above the enlarged opening
Associated work: the existing single doorway was widened, with internal making good and plastering completed after installation.
Project Location: Chorlton
This project was completed for a returning customer in Chorlton. If you're considering French doors or a similar structural alteration for your home in the area, take a look at our windows and doors in Chorlton page for more on the products and services we offer locally.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a single back door be changed to French doors?
Yes, where the property and structure allow it. In Medwyn's project, the existing single-door opening was assessed by our surveyor, widened and structurally supported before the new French doors were installed.
Does widening a door opening require structural support?
It did on this project. A new Catnic lintel was installed above the enlarged opening to provide the required support before the French doors were fitted.
Can The Window Company handle the building work as well as the doors?
For Medwyn's project, our team handled the complete alteration: removing the existing door, widening the brick opening, installing the structural support, fitting the French doors and making good and plastering internally.
How long did the French door conversion take?
The complete job described in this case study was completed in two days.
What security features were used in the new French doors?
The upgraded Elitis uPVC French doors included laminated security glass and 5-star anti-snap cylinder locks.
Related
Get in Touch
If you are renovating a kitchen or living space and would like to bring more natural light into your home, you do not necessarily have to stick with the window and door openings you already have.
Where the property allows, our team can assess the existing structure, talk you through the options and complete the new window or door installation together with the associated alteration and making good.
If you are considering a similar change, contact The Window Company for a friendly, no-pressure discussion about what may be possible in your home.