New side entrance door

Hello everyone,

I am new here and have a big problem!! I want to replace my side entrance door because it does not meet today’s standards in safety and insulation. Now I have had a nice, sturdy new door calculated, which also costs quite a bit. I am not linking anything here; if anyone is interested in which company the door is from, I can gladly post it in a separate topic. The problem is that the old door, a fire protection door that was installed as an exterior door to the basement, has an outward opening and is clad with clinker bricks. These clinker bricks would have to be removed. They are completely intact and neatly built. My questions: can the clinker bricks be removed cleanly without causing much damage? Who does such work? I don’t dare do it myself!!! Probably it’s also not enough to just remove the clinker bricks. That leads to the next question. The frame or door jamb of the new door is much thicker and so is the door itself, like a modern front door... Do I also have to go into the core masonry because otherwise I cannot build the clinker brick façade in front of the jamb? In other words, do I have to restore everything to the original condition? I wanted a modern and secure door and this project is turning into a nightmare!!!

Thanks!!!

Door opens inward to the left. I thought the new door would simply be hinged on the brickwork from the inside and screwed to the wall. Nothing like that. This old steel frame was attached to the core wall in front of the brickwork and then brickwork was done over it. If the door seller is wrong, then everything is fine and I can order. Otherwise, I have a problem. I think I have one. The bricks possibly cannot be put back in the original condition. Honestly, I wonder, since I am not a mason, who came up with such nonsense to wall in a door frame. Is that usual?

Doesn't the craftsman who does the installation look at it beforehand?

Hello Yvonne, I didn't want to write a novel to avoid misunderstandings. The backstory is long. Anyway, the representative from the door company was here yesterday and only told me that the door is hung on the outside. He will ask the in-house installers if there is another solution. At the time the house was built, I had no idea about such things, otherwise I would have stopped the mason. I have looked at countless pictures of old houses on the web and nowhere do I see cellar and side entrance doors where the door frame is mounted and built in from the outside!!!

Actually, my question should be short and to the point here: Can clinker bricks be removed cleanly and without damage and then built in again?? Under the clinker is insulation that must not get wet etc. I see it like a skin that must not be injured. The house is not in need of renovation, otherwise I would easily and laughingly say: nonsense on the clinker!! A new one will be put on anyway!! It’s just about a new modern door with a better U-value and burglary resistance, to put it bluntly. I thought buy a new door, have it professionally installed by the manufacturer and that’s it. Unfortunately, that is not the case. Maybe someone has experience here.

My tip to all home builders: better spend a little more money on front doors and above all don’t overlook that side entrance doors are also front doors. Just because it is a cellar door, it should not be simple and cheap. RC-2 at least. And it should also be insulated!!

Thank you for your email. You can generally start a PM by going to [Unterhaltung] at the top right.

However, I cannot assist you further. Basically, for something like this, you get a complete offer, including installation. If the carpenter says that a mason is needed, then he will be ordered.

Best regards

Dearest Yvonne,

your statement is completely correct!! That's how it should be. If more craftsmen are needed, they will be ordered as well. Absolutely, that's how it should be!! Unfortunately, in practice, it is not like that. It even gets worse!! Some companies, manufacturers of building components even say quite casually without having seen the object beforehand: We don’t need to touch the facade on the outside!!!

I am not using this forum for my own purposes but for all others who are here and building.... make sure to get everything confirmed in writing from craftsmen, construction companies, building material dealers.
Otherwise, you will experience nasty surprises.
Have you ever experienced a construction company gluing natural stone window sills on the outside with foam insulation??
I have!! Granite with foam insulation!!! The natural stone is attacked by the foam insulation and it also doesn’t hold. You can do that with aluminum....