Expanding cellar window

[oldcpecdr]

Hey all

Had a plumbing emergency a weekend ago and I finally was able to snake it and problem gone.

I am lucky to have a dry huge hobby/ shop/storage full cellar with a poured foundation.

In 1997 when I moved to this house I was able to fit through that cellar window and plumb the laundry room above. We added it about 1999 and it has a poured outer foundation but I left the that little area about 10 x12 as a crawl space. It is now serving well as pipe and pex storage.

I want to extend that opening down a few feet on both sides and create a hatch rather than a window to crawl through. I am a little larger around at 75 than I was at 49 it's a TIGHT squeeze.

Since the plumbing is fixed there is no real time line. I thought I would clean out that corner, set up the rotary hammer drill, and every few days spend a little time drilling along the cut lines. This way I can control the debris generated to a five gallon bucket at a time until the opening is roughed out,
I would then install a 2 x 8 frame and excavate a little floor dirt to get better access to the underside of the laundry room. Then I can add another clean-out and the plumbing will be happy.

I can just go ahead and pay the concrete cutters to do this but it seems to me that a 15 minute bite a day would get it done in month or so and I am in no hurry....and I need the exercise.... AM I missing anything obvious ?
Other than hiring a skinny plumber....

Mike B

 

[The Cobbler]

sounds like a good plan to me.

 

[rlitman]

It's reasonable. But a hammer drill puts a lot of dust in the air. It might not be much messier to use an abrasive grinder with a vacuum collecting the dust to cut the opening. That would give you cleaner sides. You could even skip the framing.

 

[nadogail]

Do you have another way to get into the garage?

If not, maybe an external door like a Bilco.

 

[ace10]

The rebar in the wall will make this project more difficult than you expect. Especially with small hand tools.

 

[abachman]

Just rent a Cement cutting circular saw and cut down your distance. If you need it wider, you will need to remove the metal surrounds on the exiting window. we did this when we added our den to the side of our existing house 20+ years ago.

 

[jbfsr]

I did this in my basement many years ago with a hammer drill. Just kept drilling holes. It is NOT quick. Mine was 12" thick. Didn't know there was rebar. That was tough. Ended up with a piece of concrete wall about 34" x 40" x 12" laying on the floor. Hire it out.

 

[oldcpecdr]

Thanks for the ideas... I called a concrete cutter today for an estimate....I really don't want to deal with the rebar...and of course the other side is not accessible so I will let the pro do it.

Mike B

 

[The Cobbler]

it looks to me like it's concrete block . rebar is easy peasy to cut with an angle grinder & cut off wheel . it's not a big deal

 

[loganb]

Like the idea of enlarging that access and a bit more storage...even if it is dirt storage....but I agree with the comment on just pay a concrete cutter to do it. Yes you could do it as you laid out....but you'll be doing it take forever and doubt it'll be enjoyable time spent...and you'll spend as much time cleaning up the mess each day as you are poking holes. Knock the metal window frame out in advance, let the pro's cut that jamb line from the poured window straight down to where you indicate and they can pack up and move on.

And include in their scope to haul off said cut out section to location that you agreed on...don't want to try and break that up and haul upstairs on your own!

 

[oldcpecdr]

It is definitely NOT a block wall.

Sad to say but some of my decision is being driven by age - not wise decision making lol.

My 75 year old self would rather work on the autocross car...

Mike B