Hello
New to Breaktime and enjoying it.
Does anyone have the “specs” required for a walkout basement? More specifically, I’m simply looking for a basement double-door accessible from the outside. We’re building an addition to our 1949 cottage.
Our soil here in southern Indiana is low percolating clay. Our proposed addition site slopes about 3 ft from highest point on the addition to the lowest and continues down to a ravine. We plan to match the elevation of the current house floor, which is almost 2 ft above grade. Whole thing sits at the top of a gradually sloping ridge on 5 acres. The addition is two-story and just under 1500 sq. ft.
I’m leaning toward a full basement (for ease of “marrying” to the old foundation as well?) but if I can’t get access from the outside, I’ll probably do a conditioned crawl instead. I think the mechanicals would be easier in a full basement, too. I’d only need 7.5-8 feet of headroom.
I’ve got a couple of great excavating contacts and I’ll hire one who’ll give good advice, but I’d like to have a good idea before they get out here.
Any ideas? Thanks
Joel
Replies
Greetings joelk, Welcome to Breaktime.
This post, in response to your question, will bump the thread through the 'recent discussion' listing again.
Perhaps it will catch someones attention that can help you with advice.
Cheers
'Nemo me impune lacesset'
No one will provoke me with impunity
Joel,
Go for the full 8' basement.
The basement floor would only be 3' below existing grade on the low side as is. You can have the excavator flatten the walkout side by pushing the soil into the ravine. You can have a small sunken patio yard. You can have a sunken stoop. You can just put in a short set of stairs.
Just make sure that whatever you do, you get good drainage over into that ravine.
Thanks for the reply... my excavator recommended the same thing. I will stress drainage with the concrete contractor, too. It won't be a true "walkout" or "daylight" basement, but it'll have a set of access doors, a landing or patio, and steps.
SamT