Types of Non-Typical Basement Construction

Walk Out

• The walk out basement is exactly what someone would imagine: a basement that has a door for entering and exiting to the outside. Unlike a typical basement, the walk out basement does not require a person to enter the main level of the home to reach the basement below. Commonly, about half of the walk out basement is actually open to the landscape; this is often a feature when the home is designed on a hill. The open side of the basement is fitted with a formal door and possibly windows.

Look Out

• The look out basement differs from a traditional basement in that it contains typical windows. The basement is not completely placed underground, thus leaving enough space for full-size windows. Often the windows of a typical basement are small and therefore prevent any bedrooms in the basement from being labeled as so in retail listings. With the installation of a full-size window in the basement, any bedroom with that window is therefore classified as a true bedroom, meaning that the home may be worth more.

Walk Up

• A walk up basement resembles a traditional basement with construction keeping it below ground all the way around the perimeter. The difference, however, lies in an adjoining staircase that leads to the outside and is connected to the basement alone. This separate staircase is meant to be a secondary place of entrance and exit to the basement. The walk up basement differs from the walk out basement in that it is entirely underground.