{"id":7,"date":"2010-03-21T23:52:29","date_gmt":"2010-03-22T06:52:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.monsterhouseplans.com\/blog\/?p=7"},"modified":"2022-05-13T07:33:46","modified_gmt":"2022-05-13T14:33:46","slug":"daylight-versus-walk-out-basements","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.monsterhouseplans.com\/blog\/daylight-versus-walk-out-basements\/","title":{"rendered":"Daylight vs. Walk-Out Basements"},"content":{"rendered":"

Today, homeowners are expanding their home\u2019s square footage to accommodate growing families. As houses get bigger, so do basements\u2014so much that they\u2019re an essential part of many households across the United States. In fact, more homeowners have been <\/span>converting their basements<\/span><\/a> into finished spaces so they\u2019re fit for offices, entertainment spaces, guests, and plenty of extra storage.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you need that extra space, then creating a finished basement like a daylight or walk-out is a great option. But then the question becomes: What <\/span>type <\/span><\/i>of basement do you need for your house?<\/span><\/p>\n

How Homes Evolved to Use Underground Spaces<\/b><\/p>\n

In ancient times, people needed a place to store their water, wine, and food without fear of getting spoiled. Since ground temperatures are typically much cooler than above ground, the idea of digging an extra floor underground became commonplace.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

At this point, basements were crawl spaces designed for vegetables and other types of food. Eventually, they evolved into cellars, which allowed for standing, walking, and more storage. Later on, cellars evolved into storage for significant home systems, like boilers, heaters, electric systems, laundry rooms, and more. When industrialization became popular in the United States in the 1950s, basements were built into thousands of family homes. <\/span><\/p>\n


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However, geography plays a big role in basements. You won\u2019t find them everywhere. In certain areas, basements are rare because of flooding. They are also less common in colder regions because basement foundations needed to be built below the frost line.<\/span><\/p>\n

Common Types of Basements<\/b><\/h3>\n

Basements can look entirely different from one another. Some may be an untouched, bare space to store necessities, whereas others can be completely renovated into living areas that can accommodate extra bedrooms, bathrooms, offices, and entertainment spaces. Some basements are even used as a studio or one-bedroom rentals in major cities.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMaterials and technology have really improved in recent years,\u201d <\/span>says Michelle Simms<\/span><\/a>, chief operating officer of Terramor Homes. \u201cNow, when you are in the basement, you feel like you are in the rest of the house.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Depending on the size, standing height, and window or door capacity, different basements can be used in different ways. Let\u2019s take a look at some of the most common types of basements in family homes today.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Crawlspace<\/b><\/h4>\n

A crawlspace is a small space accessible through either a small door or hatch that is only a couple of feet in height. Hence its name, there is no standing room because its sole purpose is to provide limited access to critical systems like plumbing. This makes conversion into a living space difficult and expensive.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Cellar<\/b><\/h4>\n

Cellars only stretch across a small portion of the home as they are primarily used for cold storage for produce, wine, and preserved foods. Cellars are of standing height, so bringing items in and out for storage is simple. <\/span><\/p>\n


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Cellar (regular basement) vs. no basement vs. crawl space<\/p>\n

Unlike crawlspaces, cellars are easy to convert to a living space. Homeowners can decide if they want to turn the cellar into a single room or extend it further underneath the house for multiple areas. However, there may be necessary foundation adjustments if you want to turn your cellar into a daylight or walk-out basement.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Daylight<\/b><\/h4>\n

Daylight basements are a basement where either half the space is underground while the rest is above ground, or the basement is almost completely above ground. It\u2019s common for daylight basements to have small windows or even full-sized windows.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Many daylight spaces are unfinished, but it\u2019s not too hard to convert them into comfortable living spaces. You\u2019ll have to add electrical outlets, lighting, insulation, paint, and flooring. If you want to add an external door, then you\u2019ll have to convert the space to a walk-out basement.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Walk-Out<\/b><\/h4>\n

Walk-out basements are similar to daylight basements, but they have an external door that leads to the outside. If the basement is partially underground, then a small staircase leads the door up to the exterior ground level. They typically have full-size windows, depending on whether or not half the foundation is underground.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Many homeowners have walk-out basements as a secondary living space that leads to the backyard. If you already have a daylight basement, then converting it into a walk-out basement can be a rather simple project.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Difference Between Daylight and Walk-Out Basements<\/b><\/h2>\n

Both daylight and walk-outs are basements that may be partially underground. Both can be converted into legal, comfortable living spaces. Both are often situated on sloping lots. So what <\/span>exactly <\/span><\/i>is the difference?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The difference is simply whether you can exit the basement to the outside or not. <\/b>Other than having an exit door to the outside space, these two are essentially the same.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But does it really matter if you have a daylight or walk-out basement? Here\u2019s how one exterior door can make all the difference.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Daylight Basements<\/b><\/h2>\n

Either entirely or partially underground, daylight basements are a great addition to any home. With daylight basements, all the ceilings are of living height, so you can add bedrooms, entertainment spaces, offices, bathrooms\u2014all while still accommodating any storage space you need for major systems.<\/span><\/p>\n


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Traditional House Plan 53-117<\/p>\n

Daylight basements get their name from one main thing, and it\u2019s the fact that they bring in more sunlight than other traditional basements, like cellars or crawl spaces. They typically have half-sized or full-sized windows, depending on the foundation height and slope of the property.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When following proper city codes, daylight basements can be turned into legitimate bedroom spaces. So if you already have an unfinished cellar, then little work must create a house with a daylight basement.<\/span><\/p>\n

Benefits and Disadvantages of Daylight Basements<\/b><\/h3>\n

Daylight basements are a great addition to any house, and there are plenty of benefits that come along with them. Buying a home or adding a daylight basement allows for more versatility, plus they also add to your home\u2019s value and are even less expensive than walk-out basements.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

However, daylight basements have their own set of drawbacks that are important to consider before construction begins. Because of the added square footage, daylight basements can increase your property taxes. There also isn\u2019t a separate entrance, and the natural sunlight may vary depending on the home\u2019s direction and slope.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Benefit #1: They Allow for More Versatile Rooms<\/b><\/h4>\n

Daylight spaces allow for plenty of natural sunlight throughout the entire floor, making them perfect as additional living areas or storage spaces. Most homeowners convert their basements into additional rooms, like:<\/span><\/p>\n