| Finished basements are wonderful. In the sorry event | | | | and pour concrete footings. Then build up the wall, |
| that you live in a house that does not have an | | | | staggering the joints of the blocks for extra strength. |
| outside basement entrance, you can add the entry | | | | Bond carefully where the new block meets the old |
| yourself. The job can be a tricky one, however. You | | | | house foundation. Carefully waterproof the outside of |
| have to punch through the foundation wall and dig | | | | the masonry using the black, gucky foundation |
| out vast amounts of dirt. Each shovelful doesn't | | | | coating made for this purpose. If you have a severe |
| weigh very much but it takes an unbelievable number | | | | water problem in the basement, which is not beyond |
| to fill a wheelbarrow. And the wheelbarrow loads that | | | | possibility for any of the existing finished basements I |
| have to be removed? One shudders to tally. | | | | know, apply a membrane of a number of layers of |
| So use a modicum of sense. Have a builder or | | | | saturated asphalt paper and mastic. You can then |
| architect - who's seen finished basements with | | | | shovel the dirt back against the new foundation walls. |
| outside basement entrances before - check over the | | | | Installing the hatchway door itself only takes about |
| foundation before you start chipping out blocks. | | | | four hours in my experience with finished basements. |
| Unless family finances are scraping bottom, hire out | | | | If you have a set of exterior basement steps |
| the excavation work. A man seated comfortably on | | | | covered by a battered old wooden cover you might |
| a back hoe can do the job in a couple of hours. If | | | | start listening at this point. The procedure, after you |
| not, buy a case of beer, make sandwiches and call | | | | have ripped away the old mess, is the same. |
| up every friend you ever had. If they have finished | | | | Open up the package of the unit and assemble the |
| basements, they will understand your plight. | | | | frame. The gadget has to fit firmly against the side |
| Excavate an area about 5 ft. square to expose the | | | | of the house, so position the frame on top of the |
| foundation wall where the doorway will be placed. | | | | masonry and mark where it meets the siding. Cut out |
| (assuming your basement is one of the average | | | | the clapboard or shingles. You don't have to worry |
| finished basements which is about six to nine steps | | | | with this step if you have a masonry house; for |
| below ground.) Play it safe and include a 45-degree | | | | some finished basements you don't need to worry |
| slope around the sides to prevent a cave-in. | | | | about it. Attach the doors to the frame and joggle it |
| With a sledge hammer and a couple of mason's | | | | slightly to make sure it's square and that the doors |
| chisels, break through the basement wall. If you have | | | | line up properly. |
| the foresight to do this job from the inside, you can | | | | Very carefully, so you don't shift position of the |
| keep a firm footing instead of sloshing about in the | | | | frame, remove the doors. You'll notice a few holes in |
| muck outside, which is typical for all finished | | | | the bottom of the frame. Mark the position of these |
| basements. | | | | on the masonry underneath. Slide away the frame |
| Undoubtedly you will be using one of those slanting | | | | and drill holes in the masonry to take expanding plugs. |
| hatchway doors to close off the opening. Check | | | | Seat the lead plugs, replace the frame and tighten it |
| through the manufacturer's literature and get the | | | | down. Put back the doors and install any |
| exact dimensions. That hole you dug in the ground | | | | miscellaneous hardware. Finally, calk the framework to |
| has to be lined with masonry block to make an | | | | make it weather-tight and replace any needed house |
| extension of the foundation. Exact size here depends | | | | siding. |
| upon the door frame size; finished basements vary | | | | With the addition of some steps if needed, you now |
| on this point so it is hard to give exact advice | | | | have the entry to your basement and you can |
| without seeing your specific case. | | | | compete with the best finished basements that have |
| Build a rough wood form at the bottom of your pit | | | | an outside entry! |