Floods From Basement Stairways in MI & IN

Preventing Flooding Through Basement Stairways And Hatchway Doors

Leaking hatchway doors are a nuisance for homeowners who'd like their basement to be dry -- especially in a finished basement.

After waterproofing your basement, you expect every part of it to be dry all the time. So if the stairs and hatchway entryway are leaking, then the job is not done.

How Hatchway Entrances Are Constructed

When you understand how hatchway doors are designed you will also understand why they have a tendency to leak.

Hatchway entrances are typically constructed separately from the foundation walls. This entryway is usually designed as a concrete shell that's bolted onto the foundation walls after they're built. Often, stairs will come already built in.

Next, metal doors are fixed on top. If necessary, the stairs are built inside, and the construction is completed. These hatchways are usually not sealed to the foundation walls.

At Ayers Basement Systems, we have reliable solutions for keeping water away from basement doors and stairways. Our solutions install quickly and are backed by a written lifetime warranty!

To schedule your basement waterproofing quote free of charge and with NO obligation, contact us today! We serve throughout Michigan & Indiana, including Kalamazoo, Lansing, Grand Rapids and many surrounding areas nearby.

(Above) A hatchway entrance constructed separately from the rest of the home. This makes it vulnerable to flooding from many different areas.

(Below) This diagram of a flooding basement staircase shows how water flows in from around the hatchway doors, through wall cracks, and where the hatchway door and your foundation walls meet.

Where Basement Stairways Flood

Basement entryways leak from three critical points:

1. Underneath Metal Hatchway Doors

When it rains the water slides down the metal hatchway doors and pools on the concrete around the edges because the doors are not flush with the concrete frame they're attached to.

From this point, the water will either continue to flow down to the ground, or it will slip underneath the metal hatchway door and onto the stairs inside.

2. Where The Hatchway And Foundation Meet

The concrete shell of the hatchway is mounted to the foundation walls via bolts, which are drilled through the concrete of the foundation. This is a major weak point where groundwater can build up and flood through because contractors rarely seal the joining point.

3. Through Cracks In The Concrete

A hatchway will begin to crack over time, like any concrete structure. When this happens water will flood through these cracks, move to the stairs and then end up in your basement.

Some old-fashioned hatchway doors were built with loose panels of wood (instead of metal). Water easily floods through the gaps in these doors. Once water builds up in a hatchway entrance, the puddles will expand into the basement.

The TrenchDrain™ system is designed with a grated opening on top that collects water and sends it to your perimeter drain.

Meant as part of a perimeter drain system, it's a great way to keep hatchway flooding out of the basement.

Stopping Basement Flooding Through Hatchway Doors

Our TrenchDrain™ Hatchway Door System is a great way to keep it out of your basement space, no matter how water is flooding into your home from the hatchway doors.

The TrenchDrain™ is designed with a half-round pipe section, with a grated top fitting. When installed, it's flush with the rest of your concrete floor for a clean, professional job.

The TrenchDrain™ is meant to be used as part of an existing perimeter drain system. It spans the staircase area, collecting water that spills down and directs it to your drain and sump pump system.

This system can span the entrance of the hatchway or it can be extended inside the hatchway itself. It can also be recommended for use along garage doorways, as well as for other entrances where water may intrude.

More about our perimeter drain systems

Stop Your Hatchway Door From Flooding Your Basement With Ayers Basement Systems!

Whether your hatchway doors are leaking or you have some other basement flooding problem, your local waterproofing experts at Ayers Basement Systems have the solution you need. From leaky hatchways to flooding floors, iron ochre issues, wall cracks, or even ugly basement windows, we have it all!

We'd like to meet with you and show how we can make your basement dry once and for all! Contact Ayers Basement Systems today to learn more about our basement waterproofing system and to schedule your free basement waterproofing quote!

Each free quote comes at no obligation and includes an on-site inspection, personal consultation, and free written cost quote. We'll also send along a complimentary copy of our full-color waterproofing book!

We serve the Michigan & Indiana area, including Lansing, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo and many nearby areas.

Related Pages

Looking for a price? Get a no cost, no obligation free estimate.