Bolt-On Bulkead or PourdConcret Stairwel
Dundee
| Posted in Construction Techniques on
I’m designing and building an addition and plan to include a bulkhead leading to the full basement. The property is in Northern New England (NH) and south facing. My original plan was to callout a precast bolt-on bulkhead and build a nice looking wood cover. Yesterday, my dirt guy suggested avoiding the precast due to several reasons:
- Potential leakage issues at the seam, rubber seal drying out… (there will be plenty of crushed stone and drain pipe so this may not be an issue)
- Pulling away from the foundation due to difficulty in compacting beneath the stairs. (Wouldn’t the bolts keep the gap tight?)
- He said they might also be expensive (I can’t check pricing until Monday)
His idea was to pour a stairwell area when the foundation is poured and build wood stairs leading to the light.
Any comments?
Chris
Replies
If you build a stairway, plan on putting a roof over it to keep water from collecting in the hole. You'll likely need lighting out there, too.
Al Mollitor, Sharon MA
I can't see a better idea than one of those precast units..............properly installed.
I've never done one.
I have done block walls with poured steps, with a drain at the bottom. Labor intensive, and you should cap the top of the block.
Roof over is good, drain is a must, and everything that blows past the house is gonna find it's way to the bottom of that hole.
Me thinks your excavator needs to learn something new. Has he ever done a precast??
Eric
I Love A Hand That Meets My Own,
With A Hold That Causes Some Sensation.
dundee... i've done them both ways.. and i prefer the precast..
the guys that make them have this down to a science.. they can bolt them on and waterproof them
have your digger backfill that area with good processed gravel it will flow in and under the slope
also... Bilco has a new Fiberglass bulkhead that looks very interesting..
the regular steel ones are good but they require maintenance to keep them from rusting
check with your precast guy to see what he's got available..
and .. you have to figure your basement slab elevation and finished exterior grade accurately to order the correct unit
Bilco has a new Fiberglass bulkhead that looks very interesting..
I saw those recently...........Remodeling Mag perhaps??
I said, WOW! what were they waiting for??
They need to come up with a way to heat them, so the snow and ice melt off!
EricI Love A Hand That Meets My Own,
With A Hold That Causes Some Sensation.
Hi Mike,
I think it's time to talk with my excavator. He's a NH Yankee, stubborn and verbally abusive as they get, but when reminded who signs the check he usually calms down:)
I like the idea of the fiberglass when considering the alternative involves removing rust and repainting.
Thanks for all the input. Any idea what one of these units costs installed?
Chris (Dundee)
don't quoteme.. but i think the last one i bought two years ago was $450 .. precast... bilco.. & installation..
IE: i can't do it for double thatMike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
I do takeoffs and estimates for a friend, who is a dealer/installer of Superior Walls precast concrete foundations.
We routinely sell and install precast step units, that get covered with a Bilco hatch assembly, that bolt right to the foundation. A pier post fitting is cast into the concrete step unit, and a heavy galvanized steel post is set, bearing on a precast pad, to offset the "tip out" forces.
The installations are quick, engineered well for long service, and pretty foolproof.
I see no reason why a precast step set with Bilco hatch could not be fitted to either a formed-and-poured concrete foundation, or retrofitted to an existing one.