Yesterday was an adventure!  We began the task of putting in an egress window.  Fortunately, the window was already there... unfortunately the area well wasn't deep enough to meet code for a bedroom window.  A general contractor told us it would run “under a thousand” to have someone replace the existing well with the correct depth well.  Figuring that meant at least $800 we opted to dig the thing out ourselves.

First, we called “811” to have the utility companies come out and mark before we started digging.  This took a few calls to get everything squared away as there was some confusion.  I was digging with a little hand shovel and Erik had the long handled shovel.  Fortunately our neighbor came over to see what the heck we were doing and he loaned us his long handled shovel and a cool ax-type tool for breaking up compacted dirt.  We were both surprised by how quickly we were able to dig out the hole.  Once we reached the bottom of the existing well we set about trying to detatch it from the foundation of the house.  The builder opted to use nails instead of screws (there were pre drilled holes for screws but they shot nails into it instead).  The two screws that were in it came out in seconds - the nails, well they were a different story.  We had rented a reciprocating saw in the hopes that we could cut the nails out but there wasn't enough clearance between the foundation and the steel well.  Erik decided to ask our neighbor if we could borrow his crow bar in the hopes that we could pry the thing away from the foundation.

Our neighbor loaned us the crow bar and brought over a cool little tool he uses to cut off rusty screws.  While the tool was really cool, our nails were a bit much for it because most of them were flush against the well.  We were able to cut off two of them but we were afraid we'd burn out his tool so we stopped.  He told us that he thought Home Depot rented an industrial version of it.  We climbed out of the hole (4.5 feet deep) and headed to Home Depot.  Sure enough they had this awesome piece of machinery called an Angled Grinder.  Once we got home we used the crow bar and the angled grinder on the nails.  The galvanized steel well was free in a matter of minutes!  Woohoo!!  We were able to get it out in one piece and are hoping to sell it on Craig's List.

Prior to beginning our dig we special ordered a new, correct depth area well.  It cost us $386.46 (includes shipping and tax).  So far, putting in an egress well ourselves has cost $461.68 for the following materials:

64“x36”x60” galvanized steel area well
2 pairs of safety glasses
1 pkg of ear plugs
1 pair of work gloves (we had 1.5 pairs already)
rental fee for reciprocating saw (which we didn't need)
1 reciprocating saw blade
rental fee for angled grinder
1 angled grinder metal cutting wheel (which we will keep in case we need to grind off any more nails)

These are the materials we already had or borrowed:

2 long handled shovels
axe-type tool
1 pair work gloves
1 crow bar
4 tarps (for holding all that dirt)
tape measure
extension cord
hammer
electric screw driver
sharpie (for marking foundation for new well height)
water bottles (we got thirsty)

We still need to purchase:

1 escape ladder
screws for installing the new well
landscape fabric for interior of well

We know we've saved money by doing this ourselves, especially when you consider the quote we got didn't include the ladder or the landscape fabric.  Plus, some of the items we purchased will be used in other parts of the basement remodel.  We're hoping the new well will arrive by mid week.

(Photos coming soon)

It appears that our dog is more anxious than we are to get started on the demolition in the basement.  Now, in case you think he was just tearing it up for the sake of destruction, he was on a mission.  I've chosen to spare you the photo of the deceased mouse he retrieved from inside the insulation.

...we had an unfinished basement...

...and today...

...we still do!

When we bought this house we knew we were going to have the basement finished.  We just didn't realize it needed to happen sooner rather than later.  Erik has had his “office” down there since the end of May.  It's just not the ideal workspace.  It's cold and it has regular rodent visitors - ack!  Shortly after his decent into the dungeon we purchased some software to help us devise a floorplan.  I located the builder's original plan for our basement but it didn't work for us.  So, with the Better Homes and Gardens Home Designer Suite Version 8.0, and armed will a slew of measurements I took from the basement, I came up with something that I felt would work for us.  The software ran us $96.65 (includes tax). 

We brought in some contractors to give us an estimate on our plan.  Prices ranged from 22K up to almost 37K and none of the plans included the specific fixtures we wanted (read “mo money“).  We knew we could cut costs by altering our plan, downgrading the fixtures and eliminating much of the recessed lighting.  Not wanting to compromise our plan, we bega looking at acting as our own GC.  We aquired a copy of Remodeling a Basement from the “Build Like a Pro“ Series.  I don't have that receipt in front of me but I think it was under $17 including shipping.  The book was $15.92 including shipping.  After reading the book we began to think that maybe we could do a lot of the work ourselves.  So, that is now the direction we're heading.

We've looked up permit/code requirements for our county and have drawn up the plans to meet code.  Because we aren't going with the builder's original plan for the basement we will have to do some digging to bring our egress window to code for a bedroom.  The utility companies should be out some time this week to mark the area before we dig.  We're waiting on a call from the city regarding fees before we apply for the permit.  In the meantime we are working at emptying the basement which will mean relocating Erik's office.