Removing Cellar Doors/Hatch

We have an egress to the backyard from the cellar/basement, but once you exit the door from the basement you still have to push open the steel cellar doors. I would love to get rid of the steel door and replace the basement door with a glass door so we can get more light in the basement, but I am wondering if anyone has any experience with this? Permits? Any reason to keep the steel cellar hatch? It feels like a tornado shelter, but this ain’t Kansas. Thanks!

sarahas

in Doors & Windows 3 years and 6 months ago

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sarahas | 3 years and 5 months ago

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Thank you so much, this is really helpful. Glad you’re enjoying your new set-up, hope mine turns out as well as yours!

dorkofwindsor | 3 years and 5 months ago

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I did this DIY. Contractor who was renovating my yard removed the hatch (some lag bolts and what not, but i remember it coming off rather easily). Went to home depot and bought a not terribly expensive prehung steel exterior door with glass (the kind that has the blinds built i to the panes of glass). I have installed some doors before, and luckily the rough opening was pretty square. I considered a glass enclosure but quickly came to my senses and have been pleased. We had no door there to begin with so I do not miss the bugs nor the cold drafts.

One thing to consider is if you have a drain right outside your door. If you have one you’re all set, if you don’t you would need one, otherwise water will pool each time it rains . If you use it in the winter (dogs?) you may need to shovel the stairs. Overall its probably one of the best things i did for the backyard.

Finally, because of ground contact, i made my own exterior molding from wood that can’t be compromised by termites or carpenter ants. This is a rather critical detail not to be overlooked. I beli eve pressure treated wood should suffice. [1EDF84D8-F960-4724-9009-2C7109D555C6](//muut.com/u/brownstoner/s3/:brownstoner:MlRF:1edf84d8f960472490092c7109d555c6.jpeg.jpg)