OT Outside Basement Stairs Question

John B. · May 14, 2015

What is the best way to seal off an old basement entrance that has 12 concrete steps and concrete walls on both sides of the steps? There is
a small hinged door at the bottom to the entrance of the basement. We want to seal that off first to keep water out then fill in the stair
case. What is the best to use and seal off the door? I'm thinking concrete blocks then fill in the stairs with rock and top off with
concrete. It's my parents' house and they don't live there any more and the basement has an inside entrance that can be used if necessary.

Thanks,
John B.

D beatty · May 14, 2015

Have you ever thought about putting bilco door over it? It would save a lot of work.

Glen SW Wi · May 14, 2015

I's have to go along with the previous post. A Bilco ,or other brand name, would solve your problem. Don't know how your inside stairs are situated, but an outside door comes in mighty handy. Can usually get larger things in to the basement with the outside door and have less mess created IN the house. Did you ever try to get a 10 foot something into the basement through most basement stairs?

Janicholson · May 14, 2015

Egress law might require that exit. Doors covering that entrance might be cheeper than filling it in. Several companies make them priced from 300 on up. Jim

D beatty · May 14, 2015

I wish I would have put in an out side stair way and door in my house when I built it. It would save me from from carring wood across kitchen to basement stairway.

Dr. Walt · May 15, 2015

Would depend on the width of the entrance, but either a one piece or two piece Basement Entry Storm Door, with a heavy duty dead-bolt on the inside.

:>)

Dr. Walt · May 15, 2015

Like this . . . .

Pitch · May 15, 2015

Only seal of that door if you never are going to sell the house. Basement without an outside entrance would be a deal killer for me.

T in NE · May 15, 2015

Most newer houses don't have outside basement access.

MarkB_MI · May 15, 2015

If you have a bedroom in that basement, you need to keep the entrance.

the mick · May 15, 2015

I would lay blocks in the door opening, then you need to use a foundation coating on the block so water doesn't seep through them. then you can backfill with dirt, sand, ag lime or what you want.

W_B · May 15, 2015

I wouldn't fill it in, put a good door at the bottom and get a Bilco type door and lock it from the inside. My in-laws have that arrangement and it works well. They are gone for the winter and have never had any sort of issue with someone trying to get in that way. They don't use it often but it's handier than a third arm when they need it (like... new hot water tank; old furnace out, new one in; storing patio furniture for the winter, etc.)

showcrop · May 15, 2015

Twelve steps is a very long basement entry stairway. How about some more info. That would probably take two bilcos to cover. It can't be anything like a regular precast bolt on type. I agree with others that it will significantly devalue the house, and since you state that it is vacant, new owners may be looking to undo your work in a few weeks.

NoNewParts · May 15, 2015

couldn't imagine my basement without its outside door.
How would I have got my new furnace in and the old one out..lol.
If the entrance is too big for a bilco door, I'd build
a entryway like room above/over it.

Mike M · May 15, 2015

Neighbors old house has one. She extended her covered porch over it and put a trap door in the porch so as to hide the entrance from outsiders Should also keep the water out too.

dhermesc · May 15, 2015

I wouldn't fill it in without tearing out the stairs. After you tear out the stairs you form up the door way with rebar drilled into the existing concrete walls and fill with concrete. The you tar and cover with a membrane to keep the water out. Hopefully you have French drain around the base of your basement wall you can patch into.

If you don't remove the old stairwell it will act like a funnel (even full of dirt) trapping water next to the side of the house and you'll have leaks that you'll never be able to stop. If you don't want to remove the stairs go with the steel doors pictured below.

tomturkey · May 15, 2015

Most new houses in this area, they grade the lot so basement is a walkout. That is just about all you see around here. gobble

D beatty · May 15, 2015

Newer have to have access to the outside if they have bedroom in basement.They make a large window well that you can get out if needed. I know Indiana requires it in all new homes with a bedroom in basement .

ss55 · May 15, 2015

Filling the stairwell with rock will not solve the water problem. The water will just continue to flow between the rocks. First, identify where the water is entering the stairwell. Is ground water seeping in through the steps and side walls, or is surface water or rain water running into the top of the stairs? A good cover or sloped landscaping could reduce or eliminate the problem.

An outside stairwell is nice to have in a basement. If you seal it off you will likely decrease the value of the house.

merlynr · May 15, 2015

An outside stairwell is nice to have in a basement. If you seal it off you will likely decrease the value of the house.[/quote]
A guy I worked with had an outside entrance to his basement that went down beside the foundation and you had to turn to go in. It had a drain at the bottom and he said it was always stopped up with leaves etc,so he built some sort of light frame and using fiberglass roof panels it kept the debris out of the drain and he said it was easy to move if you needed to.

El Toro · May 15, 2015

The house that my late parents bought in the 1950's when they quit farming has a metal door over the steps going into basement. They did their laundry in the basement and used
that exit to hang out their laundry. My nephew now owns the house and still does his laundry down there.

The house next to me has concrete steps down to their basement without any cover and they
try to cover it during a heavy rain. There should've been a drain pipe installed when the house was built. I don't think they ever use that entrance. Hal

jimg.allentown · May 15, 2015

Oh, how I wish I had an outside door to my basement!!! And you want to fill it in???? I simply cannot understand that. I have actually considered (at GREAT EXPENSE) putting in an outside entrance to my basement. Unfortunately, in my case, there are a couple of issues - like a place to put it, cutting through a foot of solid structural concrete, and a few other little problems like that. I suggest that you solve the problem a different way. Secure the entrance, waterproof the entrance, or deal with whatever little annoyance it has caused you but please don't fill it in!!!!!

OT Outside Basement Stairs Question

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