How to Build Basement Entrances

Remove the soil from the area in front of where the new entrance will be. The exterior soil must be removed to the level of the interior basement floor. If the soil is sandy or soft, this will require professional excavation including barriers to hold the loose soil. If the ground is clay or other hard soil, it may be shoveled away.

Trace the frame onto the interior basement wall. Remove the door from a steel-frame and place it against the wall in the area designated for the basement entrance. Mark around the frame.

Shrink the wall drawing by 1/4 inch all the way around. Use a measuring tape to move each drawn line inward by 1/4 inch and shorten the height by 1/4 inch.

Place a chisel along the inside edge of one of the side lines and hit with a hammer, creating a small hole in the wall. Repeat this action several times around the inside perimeter of the drawn frame.

Cut out the frame area with a masonry grinder. Place the edge of the grinder in one of the holes created by the chisel and hammer action. Cut slowly along the lines.

Hammer out the center of the frame area. Once the edge is cut with the masonry grinder, knock out the rest of the area with a hammer.

Sand the interior edge of the frame with 60-grit sandpaper to smooth out any left over rough edges.

Hang the door frame. Place the frame in the opening. Have a helper hole the frame in place. Use a diamond tipped drill bit on a power drill to make the holes for the screws. Push the bit through the openings in the frame.

Use anchor or concrete screws to hold the door in place.