Q. Why do I see daylight coming in through my basement door?
This is normal. BILCO basement doors are designed to be weathertight and the gaps allow the doors to clear the side piece flange so that they will close and operate properly. If daylight is coming in where the header and sides meet, a bead of caulk should be applied to this area as directed in our installation instructions to seal these gaps.
Q. My hinge coil spring don’t fit properly.
The coil springs are designed to simply slide onto the hinge pin. Make sure that one of the spring legs is resting against the door and the other rest against the side panel to operate properly.
Q. There are no bolts and nuts to bolt the header to the sides.
The BR Door is designed to be installed directing into the concrete foundation or foundation plates using the nail-in anchors provided. Position and square the door frame on the opening and drill the appropriate holes in the masonry to receive these anchors.
Q. How do I repair scratches in the primer finish on my door?
Lightly sand the area with the scratch and use an oil base primer that is designed for metal surfaces. When the primer is dry, paint the entire door with an exterior alkyd base metal enamel paint.
Q. Can I use a latex or acrylic based paint that cleans up with soap and water to paint my door?
While your local paint store may advise you to use a latex or acrylic paint, Bilco recommends the use of an exterior alkyd base metal enamel paint. Other materials will not adhere properly to the factory applied primer finish.
Q. Can I mount my BR door on wood to make the door more secure or to fit the foundation better?
BILCO does not recommend the use of wood between the door frame and the foundation as the wood will eventually rot and affect the integrity of the door installation. BILCO foundation plates should be used to improve the mounting surface and to accommodate areaways with non-standard opening widths.
Q. Are my gas springs defective if I cannot compress them with my hands?
The gas springs are designed to counterbalance the weight of the door and need to be installed on the door to operate properly.
Q. How many coil springs should I install on my basement door?
The gas spring lift assistance is designed to provide the majority of the lift assistance on your basement door. The supplemental coil springs allow you to adjust or add lift assistance to accommodate varying angles of door installation. Simply try different spring combinations until the door is counterbalanced (does not open on its own and does not slam closed) before securing the coil springs with a cotter pin. It is fully acceptable to leave empty room on the hinge pin if all coil springs are not required.