Hey everyone! My wife and I recently discovered a corner space in our basement under the mudroom that's surrounded by foundation walls. We want to turn it into a usable area. The problem is, there's no concrete floor—just about 2 feet of dirt. I'm wondering if cutting and jackhammering to make a doorway and digging out the dirt could weaken the outer wall? Also, I suspect the wall quality isn't great and is definitely not square. Here's a picture of the area: [link to image]. Thanks for any advice you can give!
2 Answers
That space could actually make a great cold storage room if designed properly! It sounds like those walls might be playing a crucial role, possibly as pony walls. Definitely consider getting an engineer to take a look.
Very interesting find! Sometimes these hidden spaces are remnants of old well areas or plans that never went through. I'd definitely check with your local planning department for any records related to your property. You might find out if it was once an accessible well point or something similar beneath the mudroom.
I don’t think a well was ever there though; our main well is quite a bit farther on the property.
Yeah, we're thinking of using it for tool storage too, so it's not just empty space. Haha!