Usually basements are a different occupancy than the rest of the house. If the basement is an unfinished/unconditioned space a door is a good way to prevent waste of heat or cooling, and may be required by local codes.
Basements are required to have a certain number of exit points in the event of an emergency if you intend to use them as living spaces. Egress basement doors don't just fit the bill, they also help make your basement somewhere people would want to live, too. Here's what you need to know about egress basement doors.
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.
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.
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.
There are several benefits to having a walkout basement, including improved ventilation and easier access to your backyard. However, walkout basements also come with a few potential drawbacks, including higher construction costs and the possibility of water infiltration.
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.
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.
In fact, it is not. uncommon for an original BILCO brand basement door. to last over 30 years. Just ask your neighbors.
Why are so many basements unfinished? They're generally used for storage etc, not living space, especially if they don't have a lightwell to provide natural light. So it keeps things cheaper to not fit them out to the same standard as the rest of the house.
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.
Bulkhead doors are the most popular although you can opt for a standing door depending on how frequently the basement will be accessed. You can talk to your contractor to find the best type of door to suit your 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.
If the basement is a habitable space, and a room that can be used for sleeping, then it does need an egress window. You can't have a legal bedroom in your basement without an egress window installed. If you are renting your basement out to tenants, you must provide options for safe exits in the case of an emergency.
In most cases, the answer is yes. A finished basement project must incorporate an Egress window if any portion of the space will be used as a bedroom, or if you are creating another habitable space (a family room, for example) that does not already have an Egress window or a door.
Building codes require a basement bedroom has a window for fire escape purposes. At a minimum the bottom of the window must be no more than 44 inches from the floor and that the actual opening be a minimum of 20 inches wide and 24 inches high.
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.
Bilco recommends using Sherwin-Williams All Surface Enamel A11 Series in a white or light color. For best results, carefully follow the directions on the Sherwin-Williams label and apply one thin coat of paint followed by a second coat on both the exterior and interior primed steel surfaces of the door.
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.
The Bilco Company's competitors and similar companies include Tecnoglass, Anhui Conch Cement, Carborundum Universal and Kibing Group.
Cellar doors protect it from getting infiltrated by outside leaks and also provide an extra “in” or “out” in case of storms or other emergencies. So the door you choose is important for protection.
BILCO, a wholly owned subsidiary of AmesburyTruth which is a division of Tyman PLC, has been a pioneer in the development of specialty access products for commercial and residential construction markets.
Invest in a quality basement door made from strong wood or metal. For a cheaper option, reinforce your existing door's security with a jammer. Don't forget to consider your basement door lock. Strengthen your security by installing a deadbolt.
To Prevent Burglary
Burglars will always choose the easiest opportunity to gain entry to a house and what's better than a non-locked house with sleeping household. 61% of burglaries take place within the hours of 6pm and 6am, so your overnight security is paramount to the security of your home.
It also significantly keeps carbon monoxide levels down. 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.