What is a basement entry door?

Author: Prof. Jayden Cormier II  |  Last update: Saturday, December 30, 2023

Basement Entry Doors are installed inside your cellar foundation, at the bottom of the stairs. Basement Entry Doors secure your house and keep out moisture and critters that could invade your basement. If desired, optional trim can be installed to give your Basement Entry Door that finished look.

What is a basement entrance called?

A basement bulkhead, also called a basement cellar door, basement hatchway or the brand name BILCO, is an insert that serves as the entry point for your basement or cellar. Bulkheads have a slanted design made for concealing spaces and sealing them from water damage.

What kind of door do you use in a basement?

If you'd like to brighten your basement, consider a sliding glass or French door. While less secure than a metal door, there are still excellent options for security and energy efficiency. They also provide a welcoming exit to a patio or outdoor lawn area.

Why have a basement door?

To prevent falling downstairs, to deny children and pets access to the basement, to prevent exchange of air between the basement and main floor, to prevent noise and odors from the basement from reaching the main floor. Unless it's a finished basement, the lack of a door is odd.

Why do basements have BILCO doors?

BILCO basement doors allow homeowners to add code-compliant living space or storage areas to their home. Large items such games tables and furniture for finished areas, or pool supplies and patio furniture for storage areas, move easily through the wide opening of a BILCO door.

How to Install a Basement Egress

Are BILCO doors necessary?

They are an important part of your basement. If you store items in your basement, for example, your basement doors protect these items from intruders as well as destruction by the elements. Bilco basement doors are a great solution for any basement. They are designed to safeguard your basement.

How long do BILCO doors last?

In fact, it is not. uncommon for an original BILCO brand basement door. to last over 30 years. Just ask your neighbors.

Should basement door be kept closed?

Close the door to the basement to conserve heat and energy costs. Heat naturally rises from the lower levels of a house upward, but a draft through an opened basement door cuts right into the warmth of the main floor.

Should basement door open in or out?

However, with egress basement doors, you want them to swing out, according to NFPA 101. This is because when the door swings out in the direction that you're going, it makes escaping your home a lot easier.

Why do people not finish their basements?

New homeowners have their financial limits when it comes to adding any “nice-to-haves”. This may be a reason why basements are often left unfinished. Yet homebuyers have many reasons to extend that extra money to finish this often-neglected part of the home.

What are the three types of basements?

In the end, though, price shouldn't be the deciding factor — safety should.
  • Masonry Block Wall. Basements built with cinder or concrete masonry blocks are an option. ...
  • Precast Panel. This basement type is built from poured concrete panels that are lifted into place with a crane. ...
  • Poured Concrete Wall.

Why do people lock their basement door?

Because basements aren't generally super hard to get into. And considering that they are under the house breaking a window and getting in can happen without somebody inside noticing. So.. it locks from inside of the house so nobody can get inside of the house.

What is the best material for an exterior basement door?

The most popular materials for an exterior door are wood, steel and fiberglass. Most homeowners don't mind the upfront investment for wood because of its traditional look and natural appeal. A metal or steel exterior door is the most budget-friendly of the three.

Can you make an entrance to a basement?

Yes, you can add a walkout to an existing basement as long as there's enough room for an opening in one wall. An exterior entrance requires access via stairs, ramps or a patio area. Unless you're converting a bulkhead to a walkout, your project may require excavating around your foundation wall.

What is another word for walkout basement?

A walkout basement, lower ground floor, daylight basement, English basement or terrace level is a storey that is partially underground and has a door from that level directly to the outside.

What is the difference between a basement and a walkout basement?

It's a basement that is set almost entirely underground. This basement will have a staircase providing access to the main floor of the house, inside the home. A closed basement has no doors leading outside while a walk up basement has a staircase going up and directly outside the home.

Does closing the basement door help air conditioning?

It can be tempting to slam the doors and hope the cool air builds up in the areas where you want it, but the fact is that modern air conditioning units are designed as whole-house systems. So when you shut that door, you're only making it much harder for your system to cool your home.

Should you keep basement door closed in winter?

You should keep all doors and some windows closed to retain heat in the building, otherwise, you will be wasting money keeping it warm.

Do you put a lock on basement door?

Don't forget to consider your basement door lock. Strengthen your security by installing a deadbolt. Read various reviews to determine the best lock rather than opting for the cheapest.

Why you shouldn't leave your bedroom door open?

By limiting a fire's ability to spread, closing your bedroom door at night also gives you more time to react when the smoke alarm goes off. And these days, every second counts. Because of the plastics in most modern furniture, house fires are more toxic and spread faster than ever before.

Should you leave vents open in basement?

In general, it is usually OK to close vents in a basement. It is on the main floor that you probably do not want to close any vents. Your furnace fan is moving cool air in the summer months. If you reduce the number of exit points for the cool air, your furnace fan can no longer move as much air.

Is it bad to leave basement window open?

Here's what will happen if you get the timing wrong. When you open basement windows in the summer, you're letting in more warm and humid air. This air will cause condensation and worsen the conditions down there. Imagine sipping a cold beverage on a sweltering hot day.

What is a BILCO entrance?

Consisting of a precast concrete stairwell and either a Classic Series or Ultra Series basement door, PermEntry is the fastest and most economical way to add convenient, direct basement access to any home.

What is a BILCO door?

Basement doors are ideal for access to basement storage areas and for moving large items into finished basement areas. The wide opening allows storage items such as deck and patio furniture, and large items such as pool tables and furniture, to be easily moved in and out of a basement.

Do BILCO doors have locks?

Enjoy the convenience of locking and unlocking your Classic Series BILCO basement door from the outside with a basement door keyed lock kit. Install a BILCO keyed entry lock and save the trip into the basement to lock or unlock the door.

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