Cutting access hole through foundation wall into crawl space

[devinquinn89]

This has been a super informative thread. I'm looking to do something similar. I have an older home (built in 28), and the closed-in back porch/mudroom was converted to a bathroom at some point. Unfortunately, there is no access. I want to cut a whole and create access in much the same way as the original poster. Would folks still think a lintel is the right way to go, or would just bracing and a header all the way around work? Here's the wall I'm working with and want to open up.

 

[acer66]

This has been a super informative thread. I'm looking to do something similar. I have an older home (built in 28), and the closed-in back porch/mudroom was converted to a bathroom at some point. Unfortunately, there is no access. I want to cut a whole and create access in much the same way as the original poster. Would folks still think a lintel is the right way to go, or would just bracing and a header all the way around work? Here's the wall I'm working with and want to open up.

Is that floor/cinderblock wall load bearing?

If not I would make an opening big enough to get comfortable in there and put a 2x header in there.

If that floor is in the middle of a room or sees a lot of foot traffic I would go a bit over board with the header so you do not create of soft spot since the floor resting on the cinder blocks will be rock solid.

 

[devinquinn89]

Is that floor/cinderblock wall load bearing?

If not I would make an opening big enough to get comfortable in there and put a 2x header in there.

If that floor is in the middle of a room or sees a lot of foot traffic I would go a bit over board with the header so you do not create of soft spot since the floor resting on the cinder blocks will be rock solid.

It's an exterior foundation wall to the rear of the home.

 

[acer66]

It's an exterior foundation wall to the rear of the home.

Not all exterior walls are load bearing, do you know if that one is?

 

[jrsavoie]

It's an exterior foundation wall to the rear of the home.

It depends on how it's made. Our old house had an 8x8 running all around for a plate on top of the foundation.
That easily spanned a 4ft opening

 

[LOW1]

I'm a relatively small framed guy so squeezing through a 16" opening is no issue for me. I did it quite comfortably when it went through the subfloor the other day. I could always box the joists out though, and make it nicer for the next guy though.

its good to keep in mind the fat guy who may want to buy your house in the future.

 

[devinquinn89]

Not all exterior walls are load bearing, do you know if that one is?

Sorry, yes its loan bearing.

 

[larry4406]

Sorry, yes its loan bearing.

That will cost you money.

 

[devinquinn89]

That will cost you money.

LOL this got me twice. At first I only saw the response in my email and I said to myself, "well why is that??" It wasn't until I bothered to log back in and realized my typo that I understood.

Well played.