A new two-story home in Eagle Mountain includes an unfinished basement, and the client’s plan is to finish that basement while adding a separate entry on the right side of the home, with the stairway extending toward the back.
The inspection focused on four tasks. First, a column near the basement stair landing was reviewed and confirmed to be structural, meaning it must remain in place. Next, the engineer considered whether the 11-7/8” engineered joists above could still be supported if a closet wall was removed. With a span of about 8 feet 6 inches, those joists were found to be adequate, so the wall may be taken out safely.
The third task involved converting a basement window in the southeast corner into a doorway. This change is possible by cutting vertically up and down from the window corners to create an 80-inch tall opening. To carry the load above, a six-foot steel lintel will be installed, overlapping six inches on either side. The 4×4 steel member, ¼-inch thick, will be anchored with standard adhesive made for steel-to-concrete connections.
Finally, specifications were provided for the retaining wall that will run alongside the new stairway. These apply to walls between 6 and 10 inches thick, and from 4 to 8 feet high, ensuring the new basement entry will be properly supported.
This Eagle Mountain home is at the very beginning of its life, but already it’s being shaped for convenience and new use. With the right structural reinforcements, the basement will soon gain a functional entry and expanded living space, ready for the next chapter.
