I am looking for a new house. One of the candidates is very nice and has everything we want, except one thing- a 4th bedroom.
A little background- I am a very competent DIYer with (almost) all the tools. I can frame walls, do electrical and plumbing, hang and finish drywall and do finish carpentry- done all those since I was a kid. What I have never done is cut a gaping hole in a basement wall.
This house has a dry, 9' walled (poured) unfinished basement. What I would like to do (if I end up buying it) is add a bedroom and an open room as well as wall off the mechanicals into a utility/storage room. I have read the code- sill no more than 44" from finished floor. By the way, has anyone ever heard of permanently installing a step or a ledge of some sort in the inside to make the 44" requirement?
Window opening at least 20" wide, at least 24" tall and at least 5.7 sq feet in total area. I would probably put in a dedicated egress window to just meet the code, so I would be considering a finished opening of 22.5/29.5 with about a 30 by 42 rough opening. I know the window well has to be at least 36" X 36" with 9 sq feet floor area and if it's more than 44" deep, needs a permanent;y attached ladder or step.
OK- what I am looking for is any DIY experience with this project. I am not afraid of the project, but before I buy myself a project just because I like everything else about the house, I want to know what I am getting into. Any experiences would be appreciated.
Before you say "just look for another house" Houses with 4 bedrooms on acreage appropriate for mini horses and the addition of a pole barn (or one already), out in the country (for what I want to pay)...are not growing on trees in Porter County.
A little background- I am a very competent DIYer with (almost) all the tools. I can frame walls, do electrical and plumbing, hang and finish drywall and do finish carpentry- done all those since I was a kid. What I have never done is cut a gaping hole in a basement wall.
This house has a dry, 9' walled (poured) unfinished basement. What I would like to do (if I end up buying it) is add a bedroom and an open room as well as wall off the mechanicals into a utility/storage room. I have read the code- sill no more than 44" from finished floor. By the way, has anyone ever heard of permanently installing a step or a ledge of some sort in the inside to make the 44" requirement?
Window opening at least 20" wide, at least 24" tall and at least 5.7 sq feet in total area. I would probably put in a dedicated egress window to just meet the code, so I would be considering a finished opening of 22.5/29.5 with about a 30 by 42 rough opening. I know the window well has to be at least 36" X 36" with 9 sq feet floor area and if it's more than 44" deep, needs a permanent;y attached ladder or step.
OK- what I am looking for is any DIY experience with this project. I am not afraid of the project, but before I buy myself a project just because I like everything else about the house, I want to know what I am getting into. Any experiences would be appreciated.
Before you say "just look for another house" Houses with 4 bedrooms on acreage appropriate for mini horses and the addition of a pole barn (or one already), out in the country (for what I want to pay)...are not growing on trees in Porter County.