What Is a Walkout Basement?
Most people prefer walkout basements to the other basement styles
Highlights
A walkout basement is one where the exterior entrance leads out to ground level.
Walkout basements are most common on sloped lots, but you can achieve the style using excavation and retaining walls on level plots.
Most homeowners prefer walkout basements over daylight and walk-up basements.
When it comes to types of basements, most homeowners love the idea of a walkout basement and prefer the style over a walk-up basement or a daylight basement. The differences between them are somewhat subtle, but understanding them is important when purchasing a home or considering making changes to your current property. In this guide, we’ll discuss what a walkout basement is, the pros and cons, and how it compares to other basement styles.
What Is a Walkout Basement?
A walkout basement is exactly what it sounds like: it’s a basement you can walk out of directly onto ground level.
Walkout basements have at least one exterior entrance at ground level, which means they’re only possible under two conditions:
On sloped lots. The ground on one side of the home must be low enough to dip down to the bottom of the basement, but the ground on the other side covers the majority of the foundation.
On excavated lots. Some homeowners who have walk-up basements will excavate around one side of the basement to lower the level of the ground down to the bottom of the basement. This requires the use of retaining walls to maintain the excavated area.
Pros and Cons of Walkout Basements
Much like every other foundation style, walkout basements have their upsides and drawbacks. Below are some of the pros of a walkout basement.
They provide easy accessibility to the basement. Entering and exiting the basement won’t require the use of stairs, which makes them more accessible.
Can fill the basement with natural light. Many homeowners with walkout basements have large sliding glass doors that let in tons of sunlight. Even without glass doors, the fact that one side of the basement is unobstructed by the ground means you can have full-size windows that let more light in than hopper windows.
Adds living space. Most basements can’t actually serve as living space because they don’t meet requirements for light, ventilation, and safety in terms of points of egress. Walkout basements are a rare exception in many municipalities.
Potential for rental income. Since standard basements don’t meet requirements for living space, you can’t usually rent them out legally. Walkout basements are usually legal to rent.
Easy access to outdoor space. Walkout basements provide a convenient way to access outdoor spaces. Many homeowners have their walkout basements lead out to a patio or outdoor kitchen, making entertaining more convenient.
Of course, there are downsides to walkout basements as well. Below are some drawbacks that lead some homeowners to prefer a walk-up or daylight basement.
They’re expensive to install. Basement foundations are the most expensive type of foundation to install, so while they make building on a sloped plot possible, the excavation will still cost you. If you retroactively turn your walk-up basement into a walkout, you’re still looking at costs over $15,000 for excavation and retaining wall installation.
Risk of leaking. If you don’t have proper drainage on your property—particularly if you turn a standard basement into a walkout basement—there’s a greater risk of leaking and water damage through your exterior basement door.
More expensive to heat and cool. Standard basements are some of the most energy-efficient basement spaces because the earth acts as natural insulation to help regulate temperatures. You’ll spend more heating and cooling a walkout basement because there’s less soil to provide that insulation.
Walkout Basement vs. Walk-Up Basement
A walkout basement has at least one side of the home where the basement exits out to ground level, while a walk-up basement has a set of steps—either exterior or interior—that lead from ground level down to an exterior door that leads into the basement.
As a result of this, walkout basements also tend to have full-sized windows that provide more sunlight inside the space.
Walkout Basement vs. Daylight Basement
A daylight basement is one that has full-sized windows but doesn’t have a door that leads out to ground level. There are two ways you can achieve a daylight basement.
Partially excavated foundation wall. First, you can have a partially exposed basement wall, either because you dig out your basement on one side or because you have a sloped lot. This would expose enough of the wall where a full window installed at the standard height above the floor would still sit above the ground level outside.
Window well installation. Alternatively, you can have a professional excavate a small section of ground outside your basement to install a window well. This provides enough space for a full window to sit, which can introduce more natural light and provide a point of egress.
On the other hand, a walkout basement has a fully exposed foundation wall on at least one side, so while it can also have full windows, it also includes a door that exits out to ground level.
DIY vs. Hiring a Pro to Install Walkout Basement
Some homeowners convert their standard basement to a walkout basement by excavating the area, installing retaining walls to maintain the dug-out area, and then cutting into the foundation to install an exterior door.
This work is extremely labor-intensive and requires help from a professional, especially when cutting into your foundation. Mistakes during the excavation process, backfilling, or cutting your foundation to install windows and doors can easily lead to major structural issues and an increased risk of leaking and water damage. Additionally, failing to address drainage on a DIY project will likely lead to major repair costs down the road from leaks.
Even if you’re an experienced DIYer, you should always call a basement remodeler near you to convert your standard basement to a walkout basement. You’ll avoid a lot of risk by relying on a professional.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is possible to turn a regular basement into a walkout basement. Doing so involves excavating the land around at least one side of your basement foundation, installing retaining walls to create a permanent below-grade area outside your home, and then cutting into the foundation to install an exterior door that leads out to the new space. This is an expensive and time-consuming project, but it can add a lot of value and utility to your home.
Yes, adding a walkout basement will usually bump up your property value. Most homeowners prefer walk out basements because the exposed wall that’s level with the ground provides more utility via a ground-level exterior entrance, and they can fit full windows, which adds natural light and ventilation to the basement area. The only exception might be in areas prone to tornadoes, as walkout basements aren’t as safe as regular basements during a tornado, particularly if they include large windows or glass sliding doors.
A walkout basement is considered to be partially below grade because at least one wall is entirely exposed. In some cases and in specific municipalities, inspectors and appraisers will still count walkout basements as below grade, which means the space can’t serve as living space or be rented out. If you intend on using the area as living space or a separate apartment, you should check with your local building department to make sure it’s legal to do so.