Accessible ADU in a Basement Setting

An 800 sq. ft. dark and cluttered daylight basement in a 1932 brick Tudor home was transformed by Molly McCabe of Bainbridge Island, Wash.-based McCabe By Design LLC into a bright, cheerful, highly functional and fully wheelchair accessible accessory dwelling unit (ADU), embracing the concept of living large in a small space.

The project started with grinding and sealing the original concrete floor to make it level for easy installation of finish materials, and providing as much ceiling height as possible to meet the code height requirement of 7 feet. Additionally, the original waste drain needed to move, requiring a portion of the concrete floor to be jackhammered up to provide a positive connection for the specified shower drain and other plumbing fixtures.

Next came installing a 2″ x 6″ interior perimeter framing wall for R-21 insulation, removing the forced-air furnace and air handler in favor of ductless mini splits (there are two installed in the ADU with three more on the upper floors of the home) and the code-required egress windows and window wells – which have the added benefit of providing natural light to the subterranean space. The brick fireplace structure could not be removed and was clad in framing and drywall.