Leaky Cellar Hatch - Need Ideas!
Hi All, I’ve got a flat metal hatch which leads from my carport into my cellar. It’s the kind that you see on sidewalks in front of stores, with two doors that overlap. The thing leaks water into the cellar every time it rains. Our contractor – we’ve been renovating other things in the house…
Hi All,
I’ve got a flat metal hatch which leads from my carport into my cellar. It’s the kind that you see on sidewalks in front of stores, with two doors that overlap. The thing leaks water into the cellar every time it rains. Our contractor – we’ve been renovating other things in the house – thinks that the only options are to replace the hatch with a new one or to cut it out and seal the hole up by placing steel supports under concrete and then asphalting over the concrete. (The rest of the carport is asphalt.) Both of these are really expensive options, plus the latter means losing direct access to the cellar. Anyone have any other ideas how we can stop he leaks? I thought of welding the doors shut, but this would also mean losing access and I’m also not sure it would work. Any other ideas?
Thanks!
I used rubber seal on mine but it is not 100% seal. I can even put it this way: you cannot seal the basement with anything short of submarine hatch.
I think the really proper way to deal with it is put dry well next to the stairs so water will drain and not enter the cellar.
put a shallow trench in front of the door to collect the water before it gets to the hatch doors. Seal all joints in asphalt with compressible filler. Put gaskets on your hatch doors. What is the slope of the carport around this area? Post a few pictures for a more detailed answer. Ps. don’t listen to your contractor… those were very bad solutions.
I bought adhesive backed foam rubber weatherstripping at Home Depot and attached it to the door continuously at the edge. The weight of my door compresses it to form tight seal.
And if you decide to by a couple of yards of rubber mat, beware. It will be heavier than you think, to carry home.
Presumably he parks on top of this.
Bilco doors?
I’d never buy rubbers in Chinatown. 🙂
what jock says, but first find out from where it is leaking. It can’t be everywhere. Test piece after piece with a garden hose, then go from there.
yes. a rubber mat is best. Canal Street Rubber has a large selection