turning an old 30″ x 30″ crawlspace opening Into a doorway?
TJHoyal24
| Posted in Construction Techniques on
I am doing some renovation in my Basement and I would like to turn an old crawlspace opening (30″ x 30″ about 46″ off the ground) into a doorway. the wall cuts the basement in half and runs perpendicular to the central I beam support. The section of concrete i want to remove is not load bearing. I have never cut concrete like this before and i am looking for advice and tips on how i can accomplish this. There is a hairline crack in the wall and I would like to know if i should be concerned about it. I have attached photos of the crawlspace and the crack to this post.
Replies
I would suggest that before you do any cutting, do an epoxy injection repair of the cracks near the proposed door opening.
Seek out a concrete drilling & cutting contractor in your area. The should have the necessary equipment. There is such a thing as a concrete chainsaw that can square-cut right down to the floor slab. This method of cutting requires water to cool the blade and flush out the cuttings - it can get very messy. Have a plan for capturing the water before it spreads out into your basement. Dry cutting will create an extreme amount of unhealthy dust.
I'd be concerned about where the exact edge of the existing opening is on the left side - behind what appears to be a drain pipe. How much concrete is left from that edge to the left end of the wall?