Installing a Porch door / new front door across an arched entrance

masculinist

Ive been looking for quotes for either a porch door across the entrance in front of the existing door - or a whole new front door across the most external boundary which would increase the size of the inner hallway.

Everyone I ask , keeps going on about how the fact I have an arched entrance makes it much more expensive. As though a curve on top or a curve on double doors would involve a lot more skill and expense.

Well I have been looking at adverts.ie and various other places and I have noticed that I can get a top of the range high security composite door brand new for roughly 700 euro or not far off it , if I keep my eyes open. This door would be square in a square frame. If the entrance was square I would even be able to install it myself with little worry.
I have been thinking about how to keep costs down. How do-able would it be to square off the very small half moon arch space on top of a square door frame with concrete or bricks? Rendering over it to match the rest of the house wall on the outside would be the easiest part.
I am guessing it would need formwork, a little bit of steel and a supporting beam of some sort but I'm currently sketchy on the details.
Also how about if instead of very small panels on either side I put a small brick or half a brick on either side of the frame ?

If such an idea would work , then I would attach insulation board to the inside of the whole thing and plaster it so it looked nice.

My goal is to have the most secure, private and best insulated door possible with the costs down.

Any thoughts on this matter ?

Calahonda52

Altering the look of the front may require planning permission

Calahonda52

masculinist wrote: »

As though a curve on top or a curve on double doors would involve a lot more skill and expense.

Indeed.

The other ideas you discuss will have planning permission issues

masculinist

Calahonda52 wrote: »

Altering the look of the front may require planning permission

Calahonda52 wrote: »

Indeed.

The other ideas you discuss will have planning permission issues

but closing the arch with a porch does exactly the same thing. In one case it could be closed by a panel, in the other case it could be closed by a half metre of cement.

And legally you can add a porch of 2 metres squared to the front of a building anyway without planning permission. So youre both telling me I could build a 2 metre boxy squared structure around it hiding the whole thing and its legal but i cant close off an arch without a lot of paperwork ?

the_pen_turner

masculinist wrote: »

but closing the arch with a porch does exactly the same thing. In one case it could be closed by a panel, in the other case it could be closed by a half metre of cement.

And legally you can add a porch of 2 metres squared to the front of a building anyway without planning permission. So youre both telling me I could build a 2 metre boxy squared structure around it hiding the whole thing and its legal but i cant close off an arch without a lot of paperwork ?

effectivly yes. system is wierd

masculinist

the_pen_turner wrote: »

effectivly yes. system is wierd

Thanks for that.

I'm sure I could concrete that small half moon and make it look very pretty and decorative. And probably get away with it but I'm begrudgingly coming around to taking the hit and getting the very best door possible instead. Ive had a look at armored, insulated composite doors and armored glass for the side panels and its looking like I have convinced myself to pay up once I accept its high quality and going to be there for life.