Outside basement Doors/Steps ?

[TOMLESCOEQUIP]

I need a outside entrance into my basement as my access is limited. My inside steps are in a closed hallway, and the steps have a landing & 90* turn due to the cape cod style of our house. That combined with a 30" door makes taking anything of any size down there a real PITA ! Since I didn't make provisions for a walk out basement when the house was built, I need a way to easily get large items (IE my new to me 1955 arcade bowling machine) as well as furniture & appliances down to the basement. Has anyone installed the double outside ground entrance doors with the short stairwell ? I need a rough idea as to what I'm getting into. The dirt work I can handle, but the step & door installation as well as any concrete work I'll have to sub out. Any ideas/suggestions are welcome..............Tom

 

[TBDonnelly]

Would a basement egress window serve the purpose?

Installing Basement Egress Windows: Planning and Preparation

or

Scapewel Escape Egress Window Well

Don

 

[MossRoad]

I haven't installed one, but have one on my house. It is 4' wide and works great. I would suggest you get an engineer's opinion on any structural problems you may have by cutting out a hole in your basement foundation wall. I.E. will it support the house above it if you cut out the wall???!!! Once you figure out how to bridge that gap with beams, headers, whatever they suggest, that would be the hard part, I would think.

Other than that, I don't think it would be a big deal. Just be sure to keep the drainage outside correct or it will be a shower stall instead of a stair well!

 

[MikeD74T]

I need a outside entrance into my basement as my access is limited. My inside steps are in a closed hallway, and the steps have a landing & 90* turn due to the cape cod style of our house. That combined with a 30" door makes taking anything of any size down there a real PITA ! Since I didn't make provisions for a walk out basement when the house was built, I need a way to easily get large items (IE my new to me 1955 arcade bowling machine) as well as furniture & appliances down to the basement. Has anyone installed the double outside ground entrance doors with the short stairwell ? I need a rough idea as to what I'm getting into. The dirt work I can handle, but the step & door installation as well as any concrete work I'll have to sub out. Any ideas/suggestions are welcome..............Tom

Do a yellow pages search for "concrete cutting" for a nice clean opening in the foundation wall. Search for "precast concrete" for a precast bulkhead. They come in a variety of sizes that will bolt to your foundation after the hole is cut& have the stairs already cast in place. Build whatever you need for weather protection over the precast. The door can be at the foundation wall or at the top of the steps. MikeD74T

 

[midlf]

When my folks built a house in the early '60's they had a similar basement stairway problem and solved it with a Bilco door.

http://www.bilco.com/foundations/store/scresults.asp?vers=res

The HVAC guys and plumbers were so happy to see it on the plans I thought they would kiss my dad. Through the years they were in the house it was very handy to have easy access to the basement and access that did not have to go through the house. It also provided excellent fume ventilation for the basement.