Walkout basement...concrete or wood wall?
Walkout basement...concrete or wood wall?
(OP)
For a walkout basement I typically call out a frost wall with a wood stud wall on top of the frost wall for the walkout side of the basement. However, my client is asking about constructing the walkout side wall out of concrete. The client would like to have a 10' basement ceiling height so the total concrete would be approximately 14' with the wall and the frost wall. Is this a good idea or should I advise them to go with a frost wall and then a wood stud wall? Thank you.





RE: Walkout basement...concrete or wood wall?
Apparently, the owner wants to get some thermal mass to match the rest of the basement thermally. A wood frame wall would cool off much faster because of thermal stability.
I have townhouse with a walk-out slider (super efficient) and the 3 remaining walls are concrete (exterior and interior). The wood frame wall is a cold wall in the winter even with a lot of insulation the allows short term swings in the interior temperature. The good thing about the wood wall is that you get to feel and enjoy the noise and effects of storms and wind outside without actually being there.
Dick
Engineer and international traveler interested in construction techniques, problems and proper design.
RE: Walkout basement...concrete or wood wall?
RE: Walkout basement...concrete or wood wall?
RE: Walkout basement...concrete or wood wall?
That type of construction normally does not require a single wall 14' high to be constructed in a single pour or "lift". Poring a 10' high concrete wall offers no benefits since it is actually a wall built in segments. Actually, a properly detailed structural system would break the 14' into two wall segments with a slab providing lateral restrict that affects the loads on the walls and permits better construction.
For a home with a walk-out basement, it is usually on a hillside site with some grade differences that require stepped footing and sequenced construction over several days.
It would take a very unusual situation for a 14' high wall formed and poured. Even concrete masonry would provide a superior and more economical system based on the normal availability of 10' high wall forms and the traditional requirements of grouting in prescribed lift heights that is easily done with the common use of pumps for grout (not concrete) IF the owner insists on a high mass wall.
Engineer and international traveler interested in construction techniques, problems and proper design.
RE: Walkout basement...concrete or wood wall?
Thanks for the help.
RE: Walkout basement...concrete or wood wall?
SK Canada...since it kind of matters.
RE: Walkout basement...concrete or wood wall?
i designed some foundations with this and was really jealous of those units after they were built.
http://www.arxx.com/
RE: Walkout basement...concrete or wood wall?
• I have done frost walls twice and I must say that my clients prefer it. I don’t think a wood stud wall is good.
• A frost wall is way better. But if your client insists on a wood stud wall, then you should do what oldestguy said.
• You should follow your client even if you know that a frost wall is better. He might look for another engineer if you don’t follow him.
• One way to be successful is to follow what your client wants. Even if you think his idea is not good, still do what he wants. Your job depends on that.