Is it possible to make a walk-out basement where no egress previously existed?
Question:To clarify: Our basement has high ceilings and is partially finished. I'd like to make it a walk-out to the backyard. For now, it simply has a stairwell to the first floor. The basement is made of cinder blocks (not poured concrete) with an external tar layer. To add a little more light to the basement (and to finish a larger part of it in an aesthetic fashion), is it physically possible to "cut" out the walk-out without destabilizing the home's foundation?
Answers:
Yes, it can be done and its done quite often. Although not a do-it-yourself project, at least in part. You need to have a pro handle the cutout. Whether you contract out the framing and door installation is your choice.
Here's how to attack this one. First, figure out the exact door that you would like to install-single, double french door, slider etc. This is necessary to determine the exact dimension that the cutout must be. Next, contact a mason (bricklayer/blocklayer) who has done cutouts on existing structures. The mason will help in determining the proper size lintel (the lintel in this case is usually a heavy guage steel angle that rests on block on both sides of the cutout spanning across to support the weight above) needed based on factors such as the width of the opening, whether there are one or two stories above the cutout, etc.
As far as the building dept goes, make the call to your local building inspector to find out their process and how you should determine the size of the lintel. Many building depts will not tell you what size it should be - this is the job of architects and structural engineers. They may tell you that plans are needed from one or the other. If you luck out and they tell you exactly what you need, jump for joy, pull a permit, and run with it. Otherwise, whether or not you pull one is up to you. The important thing here is to have the job done SAFELY & CORRECTLY!
When you find a mason you trust to do the cutout ask them exactly how, if at all, they would support the floors above during the cutting and installation of the lintel.
Make sure to cut the opening wide enough so treated lumber framing can be attached to the block (having a wood frame will make the door installation much easier). Hope this helps, good luck!
if you can "conceive" it, and believe it, you can achieve it !
Sure. The house must be supported during and after the process. During with floor jacks and a beam, and after with a lintel and concrete columns to carry the weight (cinder block may not do it).
Yup, just make sure you have all the right building permits and that you either use a contractor, or REALLY know what you're doing, because you can mess with a building's structural integrity when you start knocking out walls.
yes, you can. Just contact your local building department and fnd out exactly what you have to do, because if you get caught in most places working on your house without proper permits you can get 'red flagged' and building is to halt or you get a fine ($5,000 in our area) and if you get fined, you end up not getting your C.O. and you won't be able to live in your house!!
get a hold of a local engineer and go over your plans with them. They will be the only ones that can tell you what and where you can do specific things.
Good luck!! oh, and it's called 'waterproofing' now-a-days, not tar. ;)
i put in a man door in our basement that has 20 in. thick stone walls. it was a 36 in. door so no lintel was necessary. it was below grade so i had to lay up a cellar well and top it with a bilco door. so yes it is do-able and the cost will depend on the work involved...
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