Hey Guys, I’ve got a bilco basement bulkhead door I need to add ventilation to, as it rains condensation in cold weather. Anyone know of any nice louvers I could cut into both vertical sides that will keep out rain and allow this moisture to escape? The door is steel but I’m thinking aluminum for the louvers so I don’t have rust issues.
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Do you have a door at the bottom of the steps? Is it really well sealed? Most of that condensation is probably coming from the house, so see if there's a way to block it at the source.
As for ventilating the bulkhead doors themselves... I don't know of any easy way. You could install those circular aluminum vents. They come in various sizes, 2, 3 or 4 inches, etc. But I don't know how you would cut a circular hole in what is pretty thick steel.
And I'm not even sure that it would make much difference anyway. If your Bilco doors are like mine, they don't seal up very well and any moisture should escape fairly easily.
Hey Don, yeah there is a insulated door at the bottom that I installed, sealed really well. The moisture seems to be coming through the block. I'm pretty sure they did an insufficient damp proofing job on the whole addition. I've searched for louvers but cant seem to find something that would work.
Rich