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I’ve got a shop in the basement and am planning to finish about half of it to use as a play room for the kids. To make getting materials to the basement much easier, I want to add a bulkhead door. I’ve heard rumors of prefab stair wells, but haven’t found any info on them. Can anyone comment on where I can look for makers, pricing, etc.? Also pro-con vs. built in place? I tried the archives with no luck.
Thanks,
Froed
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Questions first, is your foundation wood, concrete or masonry blocks/stone?
Cold weather zone?
Gabe
*where do you live? there are a couple in the connecticut / ri area..block foundation.. excavate reinforce your block..cut a new opening and relay the block with solid fill concrete and some rebar..concrete.. excavate.. get a concrete cutting sub to cut the foundation.. drop the opening into the excavation..bring in the bilco contractor..he will thru -bolt the concrete stairs and install the steel bulkhead..first class...
*The foundation is poured concrete. It tops at about 6' in the spot I'm considering. Above that is a stud wall with brick veneer.I live in Cincinnati, but I'm not quite sure what "cold weather zone" means. Is that like a "gardening zone", or just frostline, or a degree-day thing?
*the critical dimension you need is the height from the finsih basement slab to the finish grade outside..that will tell you which model of bulkhead door and stair system you need to order...check your yellow pages for ((bilco)) or basement doors... or ((pre-cast concrete products)))..the problem is that this is 3 jobs.. excavation..concrete wall cutting..and installation of concrete steps / bulkhead door...this is the kind of work we do all the time as a remodeler...hire one or go for it...Kermit
*Thanks guys, I appreciate the info.Froed