Bilco Door Replacement/Repair?

Question

Hi all - we just got a ton of rain and getting water in my duplex basement. My tenant says a large majority is coming through the flat Bilco doors adjacent to the building. As you look at the doors from the basement there is daylight where the doors open and along their seams (hinges). And apparently, its enough to cause quite a bit of water in the basement.

I called a "Bilco door specialist" -- those exist, apparently -- and they're saying I need a custom door replacement and the cost is $6500. Of course it is.

Has anyone had any experience with possibly repairing or replacing those doors? Don't want water coming in, but I don't want to pay $6500 to solve the problem, either.

John Fish · Answer

@Joe P. Thanks for the link I was suggested this work around as well, I definitely want something more permanent. Where my doors meet it created a lip which could be a trip hazard if that l mat was ever removed.

$6500 to replace the cellar door seems steep!

Jay M. · Answer

I don't think you an post a picture here but if you an go ahead.  If not message me with it.

Joe P. · Answer

Hey John. Sort of.

I opted to not have the doors replaced as I couldn't get more quotes to level set the numbers. In the interim I figured I would try and find a mat that would cover the doors while I pursued a long-term solution.

i stumbled onto this website (https://www.americanfloormats....) and ended up purchasing a corrugated rubber mat that fit a bit over the dimensions of the bilco doors. Frankly, it's taken care of 98% of the water issue. There is the occasional drip here and there but as long as it stays on top of the door area, it's taken care of most of the rain events. It's also very heavy...25 lbs, so it's not going anywhere.

Total cost to me was $130 and I suspect that over time weather/sun will cause the material to deteriorate a bit, and I'll need to buy another one. But I would take $130 every 3 years over a $6500 replacement.

John Fish · Answer

@Joe P. Did you ever get this resolved? Having similar issue in Philly but one of my doors is bent.. assuming some kid jumping in it constantly or something extremely heavy left on move out.

Joe P. · Answer

Thanks Jay. Why can't the existing doors be removed and have a new frame set up for a non-custom door?

Jay M. · Answer

It looks like at one time it was a typical bulkhead but then they poured the concrete slab surrounding it.  It also looks like it was a typical sloped bulkhead as well judging by the  panel on the wall.  I would see if the exterior dimensions of the  bulkhead foundation lend itself to a ready made bulkhead size.  Check Bilco to see if there is something that size.  It doesn't look good though.  This looks like a custom size.

Joe P. · Answer

@Jay M. attached are the pictures -- you can see that there is quite a bit of daylight where the door meets the frame and along the seams of where the doors open. Now this can be adjusted a bit in that I can lessen the daylight but there is still quite a bit. A normal rain doesn't pose a problem, but the buckets mother nature dumped on our area last week -- about 4-5 inches in total -- and you can see how this might be a problem.

Jay M. · Answer

Well a brand new Bilco of a typical size is around $800 or so not including installation.  The problem with some of these older properties is that the foundation cutout isn't of a "typical" size.  Even worse they would put these in the corner where it difficult to flash and very hard to use an off the shelf product.  If it had flat doors I find it hard to believe it didn't leak from the beginning?

Joe P. · Answer

@Jay M. I will take pictures first thing in the morning and send them to you.

Describing the problem in the interim -- the existing Bilco doors are flat to the ground (not the raised kind). When its rained like crazy the last few days, water has been finding the daylight (on the sides of the doors and where the doors open up in the middle) and getting through.

I'm wondering if there is a way to reduce or eliminate the daylight coming through in some rudimentary manner; seems crazy to have to replace the doors especially at the quoted cost.

Bilco Door Replacement/Repair?

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