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Constructing Custom Reccessed Bulkhead Door

Bob meets Larry Landers, who is working on the access to the old bulkhead, a trapdoor, essentially. The trapdoor is kept in place in order to access the basement from the outside of the house. Sheet lead flashing and an ice and water barrier are used to waterproof the trapdoor. To give the door stability they use four pressure treated cleaters. They use two inch galvanized screws to secure the plywood sub-floor/door to the cleats. They use stainless steal nails to secure the decking to the plywood.
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Constructing Custom Reccessed Bulkhead Door

  computer-generated transcript - may not be 100% accurate

" Now you're working on one of the final details which is stop. Access to the old bulkhead that was here right -- north central. Right why keep this ball -- in place when it does condemn it well it's simply Europe about once or twice a year you might need to get into the basement if something breaks down mechanical item or something you might have to replace a water heater -- It makes sense to have a balked at drug you don't want to be dragging up through the new house sure and what we've changed -- that. We had a regular traditional slanted bulkhead door and you'll kitchen door because now the front entrance of the house. And we want to be able to hide this someone right correct and -- the Foundation's right below the porch yeah the new porch we built and a what we're planning on doing is make your custom door that's gonna be. I'd say 99% waterproof blob and -- going to be a trap door and you're gonna have to flash yes you can you've got let off that out -- we're gonna use twelve inch sheet lead which is easily form. You can easily formed to anything you know any situation you have this one being a tough when you what you mean when you're president and it's very malleable so that you can. Just without using tools. Shape it and you're just laying it over your rain over the old the foundation for the old bulkhead got to go to you a little bit more -- And up. The purpose of this of course is to get it to shed any water that. Could be wind driven -- snow -- it will melt and make sure that it can't. Melt and penetrate the bulkhead but rather get shed right off the lead and down to the that's right up more than on the door we'll show you a little later we're going to have another. Layer of water and ice shield sure what are you gonna nail this down the meters roofing nails -- okay. Okay we've completed the flashing now all nailed down and Larry has started work on what will essentially be. The trap door. And it's and a plywood if this is about three quarter tongued and grooved. The exterior plywood. "

" And going to get it underneath that floorboard -- of that. -- ago when we can't. And you. Essentially you've attached it already did two pieces of blood pressure treated stock and and you got to wanted to know whether attach the we're gonna attach to the door off. Yep blank right now these form cleats or creators would give -- stiffness to have people walk their daughters yes yes. -- like and you just use one sheet of four by while well it's bigger than four feet. Square so I would I have -- have two pieces and I think we have that he's very you can help me put it and know -- tongue and groove plywood -- two courses the best kind to use when you're doing any kind of decking -- sheathing like this. Neighborhood. Ago. -- block and drive around it and anyway. We've already marked it that we know where those leader Lai RU how are you going to fasten the plywood to the -- or want to get a Linear foot two inch. -- I have some stop marks here. I don't dual path and went to our left. Now the most important aspect of this whole job in keeping the damp -- this product right Larry. Yeah that's really what this would steal this. It's. The ice and water shield. We use on roofs and low slope roof and we figured it would be ideal for this situation. And its like raping -- resorts there are going to trim that edge."

" We'll look at over the edge here we'll trim it -- we'll put it over the -- OK now with the cover over the home -- readied. Fit this border piece which is really a picture frame before we can put our."

" We get in there. A little bit with when it up later. --"

" mail -- the inside of this right because the outside actually. Laps over onto -- you don't want to boil it down permanently lift up. So Larry how come you got ripped down this first piece of decking. Well we have the light up with like that between the deck boards and the deck boards on the door and we want in the line up sure so we we have this special rip piece first Staten Island those. And we using stainless steel nails is we -- And they're eyeballing -- and -- don't you know we're not you can -- the space your receipt -- Now I don't want to I don't poke a hole in the water issue an order. And -- These all -- up all the way town. It is the second last abortive Bob -- you go that's looking real good."

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