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    SAPPHIREKITTEN's Avatar
    SAPPHIREKITTEN Posts: 1, Reputation: 1
    New Member
     
    #1

    Dec 10, 2008, 09:19 AM
    Bilco door leaking
    In June 2008, I had a bilco cellar door installed. Where the base of the door meets the concrete and also on the sides of the door, I have water seepage. The contractor came back with a bilco door rep who says the installation was totally correct and nothing more can be done. There is a hard rain falling now and the top 3 stairs of my basement are wet.

    Any ideas on how to correct this? The contractor caulked all around the outside of the bilco door and it did not help at all.
    ballengerb1's Avatar
    ballengerb1 Posts: 27,378, Reputation: 2280
    Home Repair & Remodeling Expert
     
    #2

    Dec 11, 2008, 09:12 PM

    An exterior door can shead water but their seal at the floor is never water tight, the corners always have a small gap no matter how ell the door is installed. I'd look at the pitch of the threahs hold and see if you can get the water to fall forward quickly awayfrom the door sweep under the door.
    21boat's Avatar
    21boat Posts: 2,441, Reputation: 212
    Ultra Member
     
    #3

    Dec 12, 2008, 02:46 PM

    Is your Bilco door installed against brick or sidingl? I am a tradesman, mason first trade. The concrete plate /cap the door sits on needs its caulked seal checked. Use a hose and start from the lowest point of the door ( while closed)and check for leaks as you move the hose up its sides and middles to the highest point above where it meets the house. (Need two People in and out.) See if the exposed concrete cap meeting the door plate/flange and see if its sloped away from the door base plate. Now if it's a block cap usually the mason lays these level from side to side. Even though the top of the wall is level from front to back ( finished opening)the solid 4 inch block caps could be sloped away from the inside of the stairwell.The sales rep just looking at it doesn't know weather the contractor used silcone caulk to seal the metel door plate to the masonry cap/top. If this was done but the cap needs sloped away from all points of contact the door sits on all you need it only takes a very small tiny spot or two of siclone missing and leak. The leak could appear to be one whole side but the cap could be so flat that it builds up real slowly and wets a large area. ( inside looking up the steps) See how much of the cap wall is inside the door and does it drain in or out when you run a hose? Again installed properly by reap looking can't see the palte seal that tapcon/ bolted to the concrete cap. Hope this helps.

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