I’m a newbie here, so this is my first post. I am a former remodeling contractor who now “rides a desk”. I’m in the process of having a new home built on a flat lot, and originally had planned a set of outdoor stairs going down to my basement workshop for carrying lumber down, etc. This stair would require a pad at the bottom with a drain. My builder has recommended a Bilco PermEntry precast basement stair and standard Bilco cover instead. My question is: other than being steep, are there any problems with this setup? Do Bilco doors keep water, snow, etc. out of the stairwell? How easy or hard are they to open and close (could my wife do it)? Does anyone have experience with Bilco’s optional exterior keyed lock? Any tips would be appreciated. Oh, by the way, they’re forming the basement walls, tommorrow, so I need answers quick. Thanks in advance.
Timbers
Replies
I have a basement setup similar to what I think you are describing at a building I own.
I'm assuming you will have a full height door into the basement (at the bottom of the stairs). If not, IMHO, forget it altogether. That setup is OK for fire egress, but getting materials in and out on a regular basis will kill you.
If you have the full height door, then the headroom is another decision point. That's what I have. The steep steps save a lot of excavation, but the lack of headroom is a real pain in the butt. I can get full sheets of sheet goods down there, even long ladders, etc., but it can be a chore.
If you have the room to put in a full stair, I'd seriously think about it.
The next issue is drainage. Mine are steep so I have the steel doors and they keep the water out.
I don't have experience with a big open stairwell, so I have to confess ingnorance on keep it dry. Maybe a drain to daylight if you can do it and/or a sump pit covered by a grate, with a battery backed pump.
MAybe add an entryway type roof over the stairwell to reduce the rain/snow getting in there? Rotate the stairs along the side of the building and have a larger roof overhang to cover them (but then you might need deeper footings for the building if you get freeze where you are). Anyway, lots of options.
"Let's get crack-a-lackin" --- Adam Carolla
Thanks for the input. I will have a 3068 door at the bottom, and the shop will be for a hobby only, so getting the materials up and down the steep steps will probably be manageable. There will be another standard stairway going down from the garage, but it will have a 90 degree turn at the bottom, so it will work for smaller stuff, but not sheet goods or long boards.
-Timbers
The steel Bilco door is not weather tight. Wind driven rains will leak in...at least mine does and a few others I know of do too. Not a major leak, just a puddle at the bottom of the stairs. If you install the drain, make sure it's a dedicated run and it exits to daylight, and not into the footing drain. Do you know what the ground water table is?
IMO...the ideal setup for basement access would be a service stairway inside the (attached)garage. Eliminates any chance of weather getting in. Since that is not an option for me at this time, I just purchased one of these to eliminate any wind driven/horizontal rain problems...http://holbymarine.com/clamdoor/index.html
btw...yes the steel Bilco doors open and close fairly easily. There is an assist spring on the hinges.