Hatch and frame replacement
A correctly sized steel or composite unit is fitted to the existing opening, or the opening is rebuilt to accept a standard size.
Exterior basement entrances · Greater Burlington
Bulkhead and cellar door replacement that stops the leak.
A bulkhead is a hatch, a frame, a masonry stairwell and a drain working together. Water usually gets in because one of those four has failed—so replacing only the visible door often leaves the actual leak untouched.
Common reasons homeowners call
Problems this service can fix.
Water on the basement floor near the bulkhead door
A rusted, bent or no-longer-closing steel hatch
Standing water in the stairwell after rain
Rotted wood framing or a deteriorated door at the bottom
Cracked, spalling or loose stairwell masonry
Ice building in the stairwell through winter
Daylight or draughts visible around the closed door
Repairs and systems
Work we provide.
Depending on the property, the project may use one of these repairs or combine several into a complete system.
Frame-to-foundation sealing
The joint where the frame meets the foundation is prepared and sealed, which is where a large share of bulkhead leaks actually originate.
Stairwell drain
A blocked or missing drain is cleared, replaced or newly installed and connected to an outlet that can actually take the water.
Masonry repair
Cracked, spalled or loose sidewalls and treads are repaired or rebuilt so the stairwell sheds water instead of holding it.
Interior basement door
The inner door at the base of the stairs is replaced or weatherstripped so the stairwell is not the only barrier.
Grading and runoff correction
Soil and hard surfaces around the stairwell are corrected so surface water is not directed into the opening.
At your property
How we plan the repair.
We look at the affected area, the foundation, exterior conditions, existing equipment and access so the estimate covers the complete job.
Request an inspection- 01
Where the water actually appears first
- 02
Condition of the hatch, frame and hinges
- 03
The frame-to-foundation joint and any prior sealant
- 04
Whether a stairwell drain exists and where it goes
- 05
Masonry condition of sidewalls and treads
- 06
Surrounding grade, downspouts and hard surfaces
Your estimate
What is included in the plan.
The drain decides the outcome
A new door over a stairwell that cannot drain will still flood. Confirm the drain exists, flows and terminates somewhere legitimate.
Size is rarely standard
Older Vermont bulkhead openings often do not match a stock unit. The estimate should say whether the opening is being modified.
Two barriers, not one
The inner basement door is a second line of defence. Replacing the outer hatch while leaving a rotted inner door leaves the basement exposed.
Ice and snow
A stairwell collects drifting snow. Meltwater against a closed hatch with a frozen drain is a common February leak.
Already have an estimate?
Compare the complete bulkhead & cellar door replacement scope.
If Northern Basement Systems, Twin State Basements, 802 Waterproofing or another company has already inspected the property, request a separate estimate and compare quantities, materials, restoration, maintenance, warranty and price.
Common questions
Bulkhead & Cellar Door Replacement FAQs
These answers cover the questions homeowners ask most often. Your inspection and written estimate will address the conditions at your home.
Why does my bulkhead leak even with a new door?
Most often because the leak was never the door. Water commonly enters at the joint where the frame meets the foundation, or it collects in a stairwell whose drain is blocked. Both continue after a new hatch is installed over them.
Does a bulkhead stairwell need a drain?
It needs somewhere for water to go. A stairwell is an open basin cut below grade; without a working drain it collects rain and snowmelt against a door that was never designed to hold back standing water.
Can a bulkhead opening be closed off permanently?
Sometimes, if the opening is not a required exit and the foundation can be properly closed and waterproofed. That is a structural and code question, not just a masonry one, and it should be confirmed locally before proceeding.
Request local service
Schedule bulkhead & cellar door replacement service in Greater Burlington.
Tell us what is happening at the property and when you would like it inspected.