Window and fireplace remodel! Remove old arches windows

5 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

Hello! We just bought a house and plan to remodel soon! The house isnt old but the people who built it are and we feel it's very 70s looking. It is solid oak around the windows and fireplace. It is hard to describe what we want to do but I'll try. We want to remove that middle window and mantel, make it stone around the fireplace and extended the stone all the way to the ceiling, place a mantel and mount our tv above it. We then would like to square off those round windows and make it two tall rectangular windows on both sides of the fireplace. We are handy but are not too proud to hire a contractor. Curious on what the possible cost might be and where to start? We live in Wichita, KS. Please see comments for pictures!

Featured Answer

lkbum_gw

5 years ago

From the interior views and making some assumptions about how that is framed, it shouldn‘t be too ”bad”. That said, integration with the exterior siding may be the expensive part, once you have paid for new windows. Faux stone is incredibly good looking, doesn’t require any additional structure and is affordable.

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Comments (9)

Rachel Carlson
Original Author
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
this is not our furniture or how we decorated. We are also gonna paint the walls a greenish gray/brown tone
Rachel Carlson
Original Author
5 years ago
this is how we want the stone to look as an example!
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What a lovely window you have. And the trim on your eaves suggests a really great old house. I'm not able to give any advice to you, but I can understand why you'd want to keep those outstanding arched storm windows. Making new ones would be very expensive. How many windows are there? Would you need to do all of them or just the ones on the upper reaches of your house? How heavy are they? All about the same? How do you lower them down to the ground? Do you have room inside the storm window to attach a retainer to keep it from falling when the latches are released? My word, it would be an accident waiting to happen to carry such a window down a 30 foot ladder! How wide or high an opening do you have when your regular windows are open? Would that dimension be adequate to bring the storm window through it? I'm not sure if I understand what Bulldinkie said, but I should hope something could help solve the problem. Good luck. I understand your concern about mobility issues.
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Celerygirl-Thanks! I could have totally done a Super modern home or even a really cool Spanish style home! Love the photos you posted...although I’ve had my interior figured out/dreamt about for quite awhile now. ;) Rmsaustin-I might not do arched on the exterior...it adds quite a bit of cost...and I’m not sure that I want the curves there. I’m ok with doing straight outside and arched inside. On 75 acres and 1/4 mile off the road, nobody will know the difference anyway..lol. I didn’t really care about the kitchen design being laid out on the draft. I am pretty picky and knew I would change it anyway. I am doing a large Rangetop on the left wall (against the pantry). Double wall ovens at that lower left corner of the kitchen before the “bar” space. Double drawer fridge under island facing Rangetop for often used cooking items like butter, diced onions/peppers/etc. NO sink or dishwasher in island...just workspace. A much larger sink (48 inches) at window with DW on either side. Column fridge/freezer as well as a baking center on the right wall. Fridge will be sort of by the corner, so it opens into the intersection of both aisles. Bar space will have coffee/tea center, microwave (popcorn). I did find out when I started laying out pantry that I should have made it bigger...lol. Decided against changing plan for an even larger pantry anyway. Basement will have a cold storage pantry under front porch. My last Garden was 40*60...I’m going larger this time, dreaming of a huge greenhouse, and have a 3 acre spot for my orchard. I can’t wait do do lots of canning..so need a lot of storage for my supply of farmtotable food. :) There is an exterior door between the pantry/bar that will go do a 12*18 covered outdoor kitchen (as well as larger deck). So lots of focus on eating here! I have my family on a very healthy diet..and having space to spread out so we can all cook will be awesome. My 14,13,10 year olds all cook/bake. The oldest wants to make/sell goat soap, so I’m sure I will be wishing the kitchen was larger in no time! :)
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PRO
Windows on Washington Ltd
5 years ago
Really tough to tell in this situation without knowing a bunch more about the job, labor in that market, and what would be required. Complex projects are tough to put a number on to be honest.

Your best bet is going to be check with friends and family to see if anyone has used a mason in the past and if they have any direct recommendations.
Rachel Carlson thanked Windows on Washington Ltd
PRO
HomeSealed Exteriors, LLC
5 years ago
+1 to the advice above. Shouldn't be an absolute killer, but things can still add up depending on the stone and window selection, exterior finishes, looks like tempered glass will be needed, etc.

Best thing you can do is get a couple quotes from reputable firms. They may have good ideas to share as well.

While its difficult to put a number on as previously explained, if you share what you are thinking for a budget we can probably at least comment on whether or not its realistic.
Sammy
5 years ago
If it were my house, I’d either remove the fireplace (since it’s not a real wood burning fireplace anyway) entirely and replace it with a window OR I’d remove the fireplace and replace it with a real one if budget allowed. Either way, that fireplace would be gone! Regarding the windows: I think it might make more sense to leave the shape as-is because, really, spending $10,000 to change the shape of those windows is kind of like pissing into the wind. Plus, the curve can be disguised with the right window treatments.
Rachel Carlson thanked Sammy
PRO
HomeSealed Exteriors, LLC
5 years ago
If this were the Price is Right $10k is the number that I may have in mind, however in the overall scope of things, knocking out a couple scabbed in pieces of lumber in a square rough opening should be pretty negligible in cost if the windows are being replaced anyway.
Rachel Carlson thanked HomeSealed Exteriors, LLC
Rachel Carlson
Original Author
5 years ago
Thank you everybody for your time and comments! It's nice to get a general idea that I'm not crazy for wanting to change it at least! Lol. We were thinking 5K as my husband has done some contracting work and we can do the stone and stuff ourselves. We do like the gas fireplace and want to keep it. The windows are what really stuck us. We have a few people coming out to do free inspections. Thank you!!
fridge2020
5 years ago
$5k ain’t happening for the full project, but if you are diy on the stone and interior finishing it may be possible. probamy wont include the cost of the stone material tho. Just my thoughts

Window and fireplace remodel! Remove old arches windows

lkbum_gw

Comments (9)

Rachel Carlson
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Rachel Carlson
Original Author

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Window and fireplace remodel! Remove old arches windows

lkbum_gw

Comments (9)

Rachel CarlsonOriginal Author

Rachel CarlsonOriginal Author

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Windows on Washington Ltd

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Rachel Carlson
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Rachel Carlson
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