A Comparison-A Comparison- Showhome’s Visit-able No-Step Entrance and a Showhome’s Visit-able No-Step Entrance and a

Traditional Homes’ Step-Up EntranceTraditional Homes’ Step-Up Entrance

Visit-able No-Step Entrance was Created by Thickening, Visit-able No-Step Entrance was Created by Thickening, Heightening and Recessing the FoundationHeightening and Recessing the Foundation

8" 12"

Foundation and Floor Framing for a Traditional Step–Foundation and Floor Framing for a Traditional Step–Up Entrance (left) and Showhomes’ Visit-able No-Step Up Entrance (left) and Showhomes’ Visit-able No-Step

Entrance (right)Entrance (right)

Detailed Comparison – Visit-able No-Step Detailed Comparison – Visit-able No-Step Entrance and Traditional Step-Up Entrance Entrance and Traditional Step-Up Entrance

Detail and Cost of Executing Detail and Cost of Executing Showhome’s No-Step Visit-able EntranceShowhome’s No-Step Visit-able Entrance

Traditional Step-upTraditional Step-up Feasibility and Cost are not Nearly as Site and Lot DependentFeasibility and Cost are not Nearly as Site and Lot Dependent

Normal Depth of ExcavationNormal Depth of Excavation Normal amount of excavation Normal amount of excavation Less likely to hit rock or as much rock Less likely to hit rock or as much rock Less likely to hit high water tables Less likely to hit high water tables Less likely to require hung sewer and ejector pump for Less likely to require hung sewer and ejector pump for

basement baths basement baths

Normal Concrete WorkNormal Concrete Work 8” thick concrete foundation wall8” thick concrete foundation wall Normal height foundation wall and basement Normal height foundation wall and basement

headroom headroom Forming single concrete ledge Forming single concrete ledge Single row of foundation anchors Single row of foundation anchors No special membrane flashing requiredNo special membrane flashing required Normal allowable tolerances in concrete work Normal allowable tolerances in concrete work

Normal Sighting, Drainage and Grading Normal Sighting, Drainage and Grading Normal yard drainageNormal yard drainage Normal tolerance above localized yard floodingNormal tolerance above localized yard flooding Normal tolerance and care in house sighting and Normal tolerance and care in house sighting and

gradinggrading No increase in possible need for retaining wallsNo increase in possible need for retaining walls

Normal Need for Weather/Durability ProtectionNormal Need for Weather/Durability Protection Normal step- up and traditional door threshold heights Normal step- up and traditional door threshold heights

do not make a porch roof or other weather resistive do not make a porch roof or other weather resistive measures nearly as essential measures nearly as essential

Normal Flexibility for In-Process Flooring ChangesNormal Flexibility for In-Process Flooring Changes Normal height thresholds provide flexibility for in- Normal height thresholds provide flexibility for in-

process finished flooring changes process finished flooring changes

Visitable No- stepVisitable No- step Feasibility and Cost are Highly Site and Lot DependentFeasibility and Cost are Highly Site and Lot Dependent

$$$$$$ Deeper ExcavationDeeper Excavation Excavate more earth –rebalancing of lot & site cut Excavate more earth –rebalancing of lot & site cut

and fill and fill Greater potential for encountering rockGreater potential for encountering rock Greater potential for hitting high water tables Greater potential for hitting high water tables Greater potential to have the basement slab Greater potential to have the basement slab

elevation below sewer level in the street and require elevation below sewer level in the street and require “hung sewer” and ejector pump for basement bath“hung sewer” and ejector pump for basement bath

$$$$$$ Extra Concrete Work Extra Concrete Work 12” thick concrete foundation wall12” thick concrete foundation wall 20” taller foundation wall or less headroom in 20” taller foundation wall or less headroom in

basement or combination of the two. Taller wall basement or combination of the two. Taller wall requires additional reinforcing bar requires additional reinforcing bar

Forming of two concrete ledgesForming of two concrete ledges Two rows of foundation anchors Two rows of foundation anchors Special membrane flashing to help protect recessed Special membrane flashing to help protect recessed

framing from decay or insect damage framing from decay or insect damage Reduced allowable tolerances in concrete work Reduced allowable tolerances in concrete work

$$ $$ Special Sighting, Grading and Drainage Special Sighting, Grading and Drainage Drainage boxes and buried downspout extensionsDrainage boxes and buried downspout extensions Reduced tolerance above localized yard flooding Reduced tolerance above localized yard flooding Reduced tolerance-extra care required in house Reduced tolerance-extra care required in house

sighting and gradingsighting and grading Increase possible need for retaining wallsIncrease possible need for retaining walls

Extra Need for Weather/Durability Protection Extra Need for Weather/Durability Protection Increase susceptibility to weather infiltration at Increase susceptibility to weather infiltration at

threshold because of no step-entrance and low threshold because of no step-entrance and low threshold. Requires a porch roof or other weather threshold. Requires a porch roof or other weather resistive measures to help ensure long term durabilityresistive measures to help ensure long term durability

Limited Flexibility for In-Process Flooring ChangesLimited Flexibility for In-Process Flooring Changes Low accessible threshold provide little tolerance for Low accessible threshold provide little tolerance for

finished flooring changes finished flooring changes Additional Dollar Cost Impact Code:Additional Dollar Cost Impact Code:$ > $500.00 $ > $500.00 << $1,000.00, $1,000.00, $$ 1,000.00 $$ 1,000.00 << $5,000.00, $$$ > $5,000.00 $5,000.00, $$$ > $5,000.00

ConclusionsConclusions

A visit-able no-step entrance is part of a holistic system design processA visit-able no-step entrance is part of a holistic system design process Designing and building a visit-able no-step entrance is highly situational Designing and building a visit-able no-step entrance is highly situational

dependent, and requires significant flexibility for homebuyers, design professionals dependent, and requires significant flexibility for homebuyers, design professionals and builders to execute properly and builders to execute properly

The flexibility necessary to properly execute visit-ability is best provided for by The flexibility necessary to properly execute visit-ability is best provided for by voluntary visit-ability programs such as, Design for Life Montgomeryvoluntary visit-ability programs such as, Design for Life Montgomery