Recommendations for replacing metal hatches to basement

Our metal hatches are old, poorly made, and not air- or water-tight, and we’re looking to have them replaced (one in front and one in back). Can anyone recommend a good, reliable company to handle this? We’ve heard it will cost about $1K per hatch, which sounds like a lot. Is this right? We’re looking for hatches that will really last and also have a feature we’ve seen, where there is a tiny lid in the hatch that a garden hose running from the basement will fit through (we don’t have a faucet in the front yard).

Kate

in Metalwork 14 years ago

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casamia | 14 years ago

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We just got our metal cellar door replaced after a break-in.  Our friend recommended Abdul, and he was fast and well $.  We’ve since asked all our metalwork for the windows to be re-done by him.  Abdul 718-581-3991\.  Great and reliable.  Tell him Juliana referred you.

slopemope | 14 years ago

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The bilco doors now have a model with gas shocks that open themselves – me want!!!  The steel is plenty heavy on these doors, its not diamond plate but if someone’s coming around with a blowtorch or drill and jigsaw they’re getting regardless.     if you have masonry building you might be better off having a facade person install.  imo its the masonry that will be the weak link if you get a premade door.  i find ironworkers too brute for the job of insuring something is sealed watertight.     otherwise a handyman could do it.   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pe0tjfqNqXw

bpie | 14 years ago

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Oh, and they also have a nice locking latch on the inside, where you could put a padlock on it, for security.

bpie | 14 years ago

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I used Vinny’s.  They were great.  They came and measured, came the next morning and had it all done within a couple of hours.  I forgot what I paid, but it was reasonable.  I had them install one hatch in the front and one in the back.  They also put in a ladder from the cellar up to front hatch.  I run my hose from the cellar up through the front hatch and out through a little hole in the grating on the vent hatch.  I just don’t leave the hose outside; when I’m done I pull it back into the cellar.  I would use them again; they are quick and know what they are doing.

brewguy | 14 years ago

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I just replaced my old, heavy basement door with a standard Bilco door. Light weight and not too much trouble to install. So much easier to open the doors now.

HouseNut | 14 years ago

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We used Bayridge ironworks for our hatch and window guards.  They were great, but the rear hatch was about $1400.  It doesn’t have the feature you mentioned but is water tight, and probably a little too airtight.

CMPXCHG | 14 years ago

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We had ours done by Custom Metal Products @ http://www.ironworkny.com/. It was a dual lock (lock on the inside and outside) front hatch and it cost around $700.

timber | 14 years ago

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I had one made a few years ago for about $700 – brought in a simple sketch of what I wanted.   I think i  used Vinny’s Ironworks.  I’ve had a good experience and good prices more recently using Aldo Ironworks in Red Hook.