Basement has no door to the outside. How reasonably can it be done?
Duplex is a rental which has inconveniently been set up with everything running both units in the basement (water heaters, furnaces, electrical panels, etc).
But how to get to this from the outside to service the stuff, without having to go through one of the apartments?
Currently that’s the only way to get to the basement which is a PITA- not only bothers the tenant, but can make it take forever to get in, if they can’t be contacted.
The only possible way I see with the concrete foundation on this building is this kind of bizarre boarded half window-door in the back (3rd pic, left), about 3′ x 3′, which looks to have been a large coal door or something.
Its big enough to create an emergency “hatch” door a person could drop in maybe, but that looks too batman and would definitely be weird lol. Plus I don’t know if they even sell such a hatch door.
How much would it cost to put in some kind of actual door, and how would it be done? About what would such a job cost.
I’m aware the concrete parking lot is there too.
I dunno, I don’t have a fortune to spend.
This looks like it may be impossible :/ (??)
Replies
You can put a door in that opening. pretty easy to get an exterior door, and a jamb kit and cut it down. (well, as easy as any exterior door)
Or make one of plywood, using flat hinges and a couple hasps (and padlocks) to secure it.
how much work is involved depends on the actual condition of the wood currently there.
you may want to make some stairs or steps or ladder inside to make it safe to enter and exit.
is this access for you, or for professional service people?
https://www.homedepot.com/c/cost_install_doors
i would guess somewhere around $1000 if you stop by the local big box store and have them hire a contractor.
You could cut some plywood to fit, with hinges and hasp for $100 or so plus labor.
The framed opening is about 26" x 28", with the plywood removed.
Its just for me to get in and out. It would look a little weird to the neighbors with me shimmying in and out.... but it would be a code regulation sized egress window (minimum, 20" x 24").
I could put a new frame in and probably make some kind of door. Wondered if they sold hatches online anywhere, something akin to the coal door that was there originally?
Wonder how much that might cost. I looked online quite a bit but haven't found anything yet.
>>i would guess somewhere around $1000 if you stop by the local big box store and have them hire a contractor.>>
Are you talking about cutting a door in the cinder block? I'm assuming I would have to dig too. At least to make a regular sized door.
I'm thinking I better just go with the wriggle-hole. Cutting a full size door might cost a fortune
Was just on contractortalk.com btw. Good lord they are a bunch of strutting peacocks over there..... told me I wasn't an "official contractor", ended my thread and banned me.
Talk about egoes! All I wanted was to talk to other folks about fixing my basement.....
I was suggesting that you could use a wood exterior door and jamb kit, and cut it to be shorter. this would work best if the horizontal width of the hole was correct.
You probably could get a 24 inch wide door to work, if you can find one that is solid and cut it down
but if the plywood looks like it is in good shape, you can also get a couple hinges, and a hasp, and a lock and it should suit your needs. You could also buy some new plywood.
Here are a few photos of a similar door I installed on a crawl space access from my basement. This is an interior door I cut down, and glued the bottom part at the cut. Instead of a door frame, I made one of 1x4 and some trim.
You probably would want a solid core door.
check out egress window wells with built in steps - then make a door that fits and that opens in - https://donefor9999.com/egress/
put some interior support structure at the opening and remove whatever concrete block you need to remove, cut the others to make a square plumb opening
add some steel pipes with concrete centers (you could fill them yourself) to protect the opening
good luck