Separate Entrance to Basement Cost

The basement is the perfect space that allows you to make it your own! It has the capacity to be transformed into a basement bar, a cozy TV room, or can even be positioned as a rental space. In these cases, and many more, adding a separate entrance to your basement to easily enter and exit is a simple, yet life-changing renovation project. The pros at Reno Duck have created this comprehensive guide to breakdown the costs of this process, as well as answering some of your most frequently asked questions. Let’s dive right in!

How Much Does a Basement Separate Entrance Cost?

From start to finish, the cost to install a separate entrance to your basement projects anywhere between $2,500 to $10,000, with $6,250 being the average price. This of course varies depending on two main factors:

  • Type of Door: Typically, the two types of doors to choose from are either a walkout entrance or a bulkhead door. Walkout entrances are fully framed traditional doors that lead to the ground level of a finished basement. On the other hand, a bulkhead door, also referred to as a Bilco door or a cellar, may be the preferred option for homeowners with an unfinished basement looking to add a sloped metal door.
  • Scope of the Project: Based on how much work needs to be done to your lawn, foundation, and surrounding patio, this results in more labour and materials that will be required, ultimately driving up the costs. Also, the structure of your house and what you as a homeowner are hoping to accomplish with this project can differ from the next homeowner and their house, meaning the approach taken can vary despite both parties’ interest in adding a basement side entrance.

Framing the Door

The cost of framing a walkout entrance door with the addition of a header ranges between $350 and $800. This estimate does not include the cost of building the foundation and digging, however, it does cover the cost of the building permit.

Prepping the Foundation and Labour

In preparation for installing a side entrance to your basement, a team of contractors, such as the professional crew at Reno Duck, will prepare several areas of your home’s exterior. This prep work may include:

  • Digging around the outside of your foundation.
  • Cutting the concrete wall to insert the door.
  • Installing steps and a patio.
  • Building a retaining wall around the staircase.

Depending on the size and scope of your project, labour and materials at this stage of the renovation process can total any figure from $500 to $4,500.

Adding a Patio

If you are planning to install a patio while also building your basement entranceway, you can expect the cost to range anywhere between $10 and $50 per square foot.

Removing Your Old Door

If you need to remove your old door for a walkout door when adding an entranceway for your basement, the removal cost can range between $400 and $600.

What Kind of Separate Entrance to Basement Can I Get on My Budget?

Installing a basement entranceway is more times than not, categorized as a large-scale renovation project. However, it can also be planned on a smaller scale, say for example, you are looking to create a safer entrance to your cellar, and to do so, you upgrade your bulkhead door. In either situation, the kind of entranceway and the scope of the project plays a significant role in estimating your final budget totals. Let’s take a closer look at the different separate entrance to basement cost ranges and what you can expect to get out of each budget.

$500 – $1,000

Typically, this range covers easy door replacements that can be done by yourself. In this instance, this DIY project does not require the alteration of your basement structure, patio, or foundation. The price of pre-hung exterior doors can start out as low as $150, and rise upwards of $3,000, and bulkhead doors can cost as low as around $500. This cost estimate includes the necessary tools needed to remove the old door, as well as the materials.

$1,000 – $2,500

In this range, you can hire professional contractors whose services will include the cost of materials, labour, and installing a bulkhead or higher-end, pre-hung door to your basement.

$2,500 – $5,000

The price range here can cover the preparation of your exterior, cutting the hole in your foundation, installing a walkout entrance, building a small staircase, and adding a patio as well.

$5,000 and Up

If your price range falls into this budget, you have the flexibility to expand your exterior design plans. Consider choosing a custom door and frame, adding pavers or brick to your patio, or at the same time, adding an egress window.

How Much Does It Cost to Add a Side Entrance to Basement Yourself?

If you’re simply switching out your old basement door for a new one, or you’re adding a pre-hung door into a pre-cut exterior space, the costs of tools should be less than $100, in addition to the cost of the door itself.

However, professional contractors are essential the moment your renovation project calls for foundation work or major excavation. This is because cutting into your foundation will require a green light from a structural engineer and the necessary separate entrance to basement permits as well.

Basement Entrance Cost Breakdown

It can be challenging, and certainly overwhelming, when you’re in the early stages of beginning a major renovation project such as adding an exterior door to create your basement side entrance.

Not knowing where to start, who to call, and how to budget can be difficult. When breaking down the costs that are involved in installing a basement entranceway, include the following:

  • Materials (the door itself, bulkhead door, or pre-hung walkout)
  • Framing the door and adding a header
  • Cutting the entranceway hole
  • Excavation costs
  • Local building permits

How Much Does It Cost to Install a Basement Entrance by Type?

There are two leading types of basement doors: bulkheads and walkout exits. At its core, the two types of doors are similar in the sense they both offer a safe and convenient way to get in and out of your basement. Where they differ however is in the different purposes they serve, and the price tags associated with each.

  • Bulkheads – These doors’ price ranges from $500 to $1,000 for materials, and $1000 to $2,000 for all removal and labour costs. Bulkhead doors are appealing to those homeowners with unfinished basements, who are looking for a much simpler means of entering the space rather than from inside their home. It’s important to keep in mind your city’s building codes before installing. Typically, bulkhead doors are reserved for accessing unfinished basements and cellars used primarily for mechanical equipment.
  • Walkout Exits – The price of this type of basement separate entrance depends on the scope of the project, but on average, ranges anywhere between $2,500 and $10,000. The reason for the significant jump in price from bulkheads to walkout exists is because higher costs are the result of needing to restructure the foundation and exterior of your home, which in this case is necessary to fit and accommodate the full walkout door.

What Factors Influence the Cost to Add a Basement Door?

The cost to add a separate entrance to basement is most influenced by where you’re starting the project, and where you’re ultimately headed in the end. For example, you can expect higher prices if you are digging into your landscape and laying a patio. On the other hand, if you already have a tall foundation wall above ground, you can project fewer costs because minimal excavation is necessary to add the door, stairs, and patio.

Additional contributing factors include:

  • Age of Home – Based on when your house was built, there may be construction challenges related that contractors will face. Older homes in particular are more likely to require additional repair, reinforcement, or treatment before major renovations can commence.
  • Door and Walkout Frame Materials – These are the materials involved when installing a separate entrance to your basement. Moreover, if you’re adding a deck, patio or staircase outside of the entrance, brick, concrete, or stone pavers will likely be needed to begin building.
  • Patio and Stair Design – If a surrounding patio or staircase is included in your renovation project, then the corresponding chosen materials will impact your separate entrance to basement costs. Typically, brick, stone, or concrete pavers are on the higher end of material costs and require additional labour for installation, whereas poured patios tend to be less expensive per square foot.
  • Foundation Strength and Condition – This variable dramatically impacts the cost of a basement entrance. For instance, a situation where extensive digging is required, this will cost a pretty penny. Conversely, you will save on costs if you already have a well-conditioned above-ground foundation wall because very minimal excavation is needed before cutting into it to add a door.
  • Style of Door Installation – Basement entrance doors can range from glass sliding, to French doors that let in copious amounts of natural light, to highly secure windowless metal doors. The price you pay for materials and installation labour can be greatly impacted by your choice of the style of door. For example, a common choice is glass doors despite them selling for a much higher cost when compared to other door styles on the market.
  • Location – The local region of your home can influence the cost of constructing your basement side entrance door. Ground density plays an important role in not only effecting price ranges, but also denser soil can sometimes make excavation more time-consuming and difficult. It is noteworthy to point out ground density does vary from region to region. Your local jurisdiction may also require you to acquire and pay for specific permits for excavation or renovation.

FAQs About Installing a Basement Entrance

Once you have decided you are ready to begin planning your next renovation design, hiring the best suited team to guide your basement separate entrance installation project is the key to a well-ordered, safe, and affordable experience.

The first step to installing a successful basement door is to find the best team of local contractors. This well-versed crew should include tradespeople who offer experience as door installers, structural engineers, or patio contractors. Even in situations where you plan to take on some aspects of the project in DIY fashion, there are elements, replacing a pre-hung door for example, which require the knowledge and expertise of professionals to safely and effectively survey your home and it’s exterior to get started.

Installing a full walkout basement exit ultimately upgrades your entire home. The added living space increases your home’s property value and can possibly earn you some extra income from renting out the unit. In most cases, including a finished basement, homeowners are required to add a window or an egress door for any liveable area.

There are plenty of reasons to take advantage of installing a side entrance to your basement. For starters, this added entranceway can increase your home’s value. Furthermore, the addition provides extra privacy and security. A separate entrance basement can help keep valuables safe from looters. If you have guests staying with you or you yourself need to enter your home, the side entrance door to the basement allows for seamless entering and exiting without disturbing the rest of the house. Lastly, a side entrance allows you the possibility of generating additional income via utilizing your basement space as a rental unit.

There may be zoning or building code requirements to add a separate entrance to the basement depending on where you are located. Most municipalities have permitting requirements for cutting into your home’s foundation or excavating your yard, so check with your contractors before initiating this type of renovation project.

The only maintenance considerations a homeowner should be aware of when adding a basement separate entrance is that the door needs to be levelled with the basement floor. This is prioritized during the foundation prep and labour stage when your hired contractors will dig around the outside of your foundation and ensure the uniformity is in place.

Absolutely! Adding a basement side entrance increases property value because potential buyers love the fact that the door has already been built, meaning they do not need to invest their time, money, and effort because you have already successfully accomplished this task. Also, potential home buyers are intrigued by the fact that if they wanted to, now with the addition of a side entrance door, they could rent out the basement space and take advantage of the option to generate extra income. And of course, if you choose to stay in your home, you have that same flexibility too.

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