Any issues with remove a cellar hatch or bulkhead door?

I want to remove the front and rear cellar hatch / bulk head doors to the cellar door of my 3-family row house. There is no stoop, just a few steps up above to the first floor. There will be a real exterior door at the bottom of the stairs when the hatches are removed. There are also old dry wells in place at the bottom of the stairs. Has anyone done this and had any issues with flooding? Many neighbors don’t have hatches in the front of their house but I’m not sure if they have any water issue during heavy rains. Any advice on whether to remove these doors?

michellefk

in Cellar 9 years and 11 months ago

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no-permits | 9 years and 11 months ago

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you might not have an issue right away with removing the rear bilco door, but as soon as that drain backs up you will either have a flooded basement or if you have a good door, water thats up to the top. the outdoor drains backup all the time with leaves, dirt etc. as for the front, just got a regular basement hatch like you see all around.

michellefk | 9 years and 11 months ago

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The hatch to the Cellar is really a bulkhead door leading to an exterior door at the bottom of a stairwell. There will be FDNY access to the Cellar and there is separate fresh air intake to the mechanical room as well. The hatch or bulkhead removal is really about allowing for easier use of the Cellar. Thanks for the advice.

resident2 | 9 years and 11 months ago

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Are you talking about the hatch to the cellar? As far as I know they are legally required for the Fire Department to open in case of boiler fires and other emergencies in your cellar. They are also useful for airing out your cellar seasonly. As well as getting stuff in and out, such as changing plumbing, hot water heaters etc.

dorkofwindsor | 9 years and 11 months ago

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I forgot to mention that given the normal west-to-east weather pattern, many west-facing (or south facing) door entrances should be installed so as to keep out a really hard driving rain into that door. (so don’t cheap out on the installation of the door). While many hatches are not really waterproof, when they drip they are dripping onto the stairs etc not into the house as a driving rain through a door might. I know a good number of not-so-maintenance friendly homeowners who have significantly weathered windows and doors on the harsh weathered side of the house and consequently rain just drives right through them into the basement. But these are people who don’t seem to care about this, and i’m guessing that is not you since you are a concerned homeowner posting on brownstoner. Cheers,

dorkofwindsor | 9 years and 11 months ago

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if there are drains at the bottom of each respective stairwell, you’re probably good – as long as the drain works and can handle a heavy downpour. (You could try to test this with a hose on full bore for 5 minutes, although if the drain does not flow as freely during a heavy downpour due to a very taxed main drain you wouldn’t know that. Talking to neighbors could be invaluable in these types of experiences they have in the super soaker storms.) You will have more maintenance (snow removal, leaves etc), and you’ll need to maintain a clear drain so rain doesn’t back up and flood the stairwell and possibly seep in through the door. Cellar doors are good for your absentee landlord or homeowner who loathes maintenance (in brooklyn that is likely a substantial number). But i digress…. And any difference in security between your setups. Other than that let us know how it goes! Good luck,