Can a basement door improve my home's security?

A properly installed and maintained basement door contributes to home security, but the level of security depends on the specific features of the unit and how it is secured from inside.

Standard Bilco doors include a slide bolt lock on the inside that prevents the doors from being opened from the exterior. For enhanced security, Bilco offers optional exterior padlock hasps that allow the doors to be locked from outside when the basement is not in use. Heavy-gauge steel doors are more resistant to forced entry than standard-gauge models.

A deteriorated or improperly fitting door, by contrast, reduces security. Warped panels that no longer seal flush, rusted locks that have seized, or frames that have separated from the surrounding concrete all create vulnerabilities that an older door may have developed over time.

Replacing an old, worn cellar door with a new properly installed unit restores both the security and weather barrier that the original door was designed to provide. Contact Scaldino Basement Solutions to evaluate your existing door's condition.