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Bilco Installation, Replacement, Masonry Integration.

Bilco Basement Door Installation & Repair.

Bilco basement access door installation, replacement, and full masonry-to-frame integration on historic and modern homes.

Family-Owned Since 1947

Four Generations · Paul-Led

Written Proposal

Fixed Total · Clear Scope

Tri-State Coverage

NJ · PA · NYC · FL

By Paul Pennacchi·Fourth-Generation Owner, A. Pennacchi & Sons

Bilco basement access doors look like a product install and are actually a masonry project. The door is only as good as the concrete stair, the masonry walls that flank it, and the waterproofing at the joint where it meets the foundation. A. Pennacchi & Sons installs, replaces, and repairs Bilco doors with full masonry integration across New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York City. Four generations of Pennacchi craftsmen. Paul-led on every project.

Bilco Basement Doors: Why Bilco Installation Is A Masonry Job.

Why Bilco Installation Is A Masonry Job.

Bilco manufactures the door, but the door has to bolt to a masonry stair that sits in a foundation opening with waterproof transitions on both sides. The most common failure we fix is a door that is structurally fine with stair walls that are separating from the foundation and letting water into the basement. Installing the door correctly means rebuilding the stair walls in block or poured concrete, waterproofing the joint to the foundation, and only then bolting the door frame to the finished masonry.

  • New Bilco door installation on existing basements
  • Replacement of failed Bilco door assemblies
  • Concrete or block stair wall rebuilds
  • Foundation-to-stair waterproofing integration
  • Rotted wood frame replacement with masonry
  • Interior basement door reframing
Bilco Basement Doors: The Common Failure Mode.

The Common Failure Mode.

A Bilco door installed 20 to 40 years ago on a block or poured stair that has shifted, cracked, or separated from the foundation will fail whether or not the door hardware is sound. Replacing just the door is a temporary fix. The permanent fix is rebuilding the stair assembly, waterproofing the foundation interface, and then installing fresh hardware. We quote both options and tell you honestly which applies to your property.

Bilco Basement Doors: When A New Bilco Is Worth It.

When A New Bilco Is Worth It.

Bilco doors are the best way to add basement egress code compliance, create access for water heaters and mechanical equipment, and provide an emergency exit from a finished basement. On properties where this scope was deferred for decades, a full Bilco replacement with proper masonry integration is a significant upgrade for a modest scope size.

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What Our Clients Say

A Reputation Built On Referrals.

5.0
Countless Google Reviews
MA

Michael Atkin

8 reviews

10 Months Ago

Knowledgeable, professional, reliable. Sent 6 masons to get the waterproofing job done quickly. Highly recommended. Has the knowhow to get the job done right the first time. A trustworthy expert firm.

Basement Waterproofing
LH

Lauren Hilton

1 review · 1 photo

A Year Ago

I had a roofer come out for a small leak in my attic. He fixed it and while up on the roof took pictures of my chimney. Told me I had a big problem. Lot of mortar missing. I called A. Pennacchi & Sons. Paul came out the next day. He told me what needed to be done and gave me a price. I asked him if I should add a few bricks to the top. He said "why do you want to spend more money?" What contractor says that? The men came out a few days later. On time, polite, got right to work, and cleaned up like they were never there. Paul had given me a choice of colors. His price was the best one. My chimney now looks absolutely beautiful. I would give them 10 stars.

Chimney Repoint
RT

Rich Treichler

11 reviews

A Year Ago

Great experience with Paul and the Pennacchi team. We contracted this firm to waterproof our basement and replace our basement windows. Nick was excellent at coordinating the effort, including preparation, window replacement, waterproofing, clean up, and follow up to inquire about and resolve a few questions. Happy to recommend Pennacchi and Sons.

Basement Waterproofing
BG

Brenda Giannacio

1 review

A Year Ago

A. Pennacchi & Sons has offered outstanding service since our first meeting. Honest, reliable, knowledgeable, and very responsive. The staff take pride in their work and are very respectful of your home. We highly recommend using them if you are having issues with a wet basement. We cannot thank them enough.

Basement Waterproofing
JA

Jackson Adolph

2 reviews

A Year Ago

Pennacchi sealed our basement 2 years ago. After a recent heavy rain we noticed seepage and asked Pennacchi to look at it. They sent Nick, who did an excellent job diagnosing the problem, finding the most likely seepage site, and then repairing it. Nick came by the next day, inspected the repair, and also improved sealing of 2 utility pipe entries. The rapid response, competency, diligence, and follow-up were excellent.

Basement Waterproofing Repair
MA

Mmm Aaa

Local Guide · 19 reviews · 24 photos

2 Years Ago

We are so impressed with Pennacchi & Sons. Multiple people recommended this company as the best in the region. For a company with a huge legacy, working throughout the county, there was no hesitation to see what our small job looked like and whether they could help. The crew was friendly, timely, and efficient. Ray walked us through the process, gave us a play-by-play for the best understanding of the work, and answered tons of questions. The end result was better than the original.

Masonry Restoration
MS

Michael Su

Local Guide · 11 reviews · 1 photo

2 Years Ago

Pennacchi has an exceptional reputation and we now have firsthand experience of their stellar work. The precision craftsmanship and professionalism are impressive. We had our chimneys repointed, brickwork restored, and a basement wall resealed. It all blends seamlessly and looks gorgeous. Ask for Sam as your foreman if you can, he was amazing. The entire crew was fantastic. Kudos to Paul and the leadership for building a great team. Impeccable service and beautiful finished product.

Chimney & Basement Sealing
AA

Adam Arif

Local Guide · 98 reviews · 1,020 photos

2 Years Ago

Pennacchi & Sons does amazing work. They restored my front door steps which were in bad condition. They fixed all the chips and cracks and painted them. Very professional and great service.

Stone Step Restoration
VC

Victoria Chow

9 reviews · 9 photos

3 Years Ago

Water was getting into my house because of the old brick exterior. It needed to be repointed and painted on the interior. Although this was a very small job, Paul and his son Paul Junior were incredibly professional, listened, and addressed my concerns. I left their crew to complete the work without being home and everything was safe and secure when I got back. They kept their work areas clean and took away their trash. Paul’s price was the most competitive. HIGHLY RECOMMEND.

Brick Repointing
WR

Wayne Richardson

8 reviews · 1 photo

3 Years Ago

My basement was leaking really bad and had 2 different companies come out and try to fix the problem with no luck. Decided to try a third time and luckily I came across APS. They came out and did amazing work and solved all my issues. Put in a French drain, sump pump, and stuccoed the walls. They had to fix all the problems the other companies did, and it was a great experience working with them. Paul was extremely professional. Highly recommend if you need the job done right the first time.

French Drain & Waterproofing
SB

S. B.

Local Guide · 14 reviews

3 Years Ago

These guys did a great job on my chimney with stucco.

Chimney Stucco
SS

Shibani Sharma

8 reviews

3 Years Ago

Excellent work. Very professional.

General Masonry
ES

Ellen Scanlon

Local Guide · 13 reviews · 1 photo

5 Years Ago

Pennacchi is the best. We had several jobs done in the past few months and found Paul and team to deliver exceptional work and service for reasonable prices. Very knowledgeable and professional. We had the basement waterproofed, foundation redone, and steps repointed. Extremely satisfied.

Foundation & Waterproofing
BC

Bill Cunningham

Local Guide · 78 reviews · 265 photos

5 Years Ago

The best in the business. Ask for Paul. Tell him Billy C. sent ya.

General Masonry
KT

Katia Ten Eyck

Local Guide · 24 reviews · 69 photos

6 Years Ago

We hired Pennacchi and Sons to waterproof our basement. We did not necessarily have issues, we just wanted to prevent any moisture problems in the future. We consulted with a few other people before speaking with Paul, the owner. Paul came up with an effective and cost-effective solution for us. We are very happy with the service and highly recommend Paul to everyone.

Basement Waterproofing
JM

John Monsport

7 reviews · 1 photo

6 Years Ago

These guys did an amazing job for us. 20 years of trying to get my basement dry and these guys finally got it to work. We actually had another company do it 15 years ago but we always got water back. Paul and his brothers worked hard and they cleaned us up as well. Thanks for letting me tell this story guys.

Basement Waterproofing
MS

Mike Salvador

2 reviews

6 Years Ago

I hired Pennacchi and Sons to do repair work on my chimney. In the 3 days they were here, they did an excellent job from start to finish. They also left my home in the same condition as it was before they came. I could not recommend this company more and would definitely hire them again if I needed future masonry work done.

Chimney Repair
MB

MeghanB

16 reviews · 2 photos

6 Years Ago

Gorgeous job repairing and painting my chimney.

Chimney Repair & Paint
BK

B. K.

Local Guide · 56 reviews · 1 photo

6 Years Ago

You want the best, call Paul at Pennacchi & Sons. Great work and he stands by all his work. A++

General Masonry
MP

Marcus Padulchick

Local Guide · 102 reviews · 32 photos

7 Years Ago

I would use them again. We needed a front porch and patio repaired. They did a great job and are very responsive to follow up. Attention to detail is certainly something I was impressed with.

Porch & Patio Repair
Our Process

How We Work.

  1. Step 01

    Request An Estimate

    Submit the form or call the Hamilton headquarters. A specialist replies within one business day to confirm scope and book the site visit.

  2. Step 02

    Site Visit

    A Pennacchi craftsman meets you at the property, identifies the failure mode, documents the scope with photographs, and reviews options with you on the spot.

  3. Step 03

    Written Proposal

    Within 5 business days you receive a fixed-price written proposal with a clear scope of work and a total price. No time-and-materials. No surprises.

  4. Step 04

    Production & Cleanup

    Our crews execute the work, tarp landscaping, enforce strict debris control, and cure the final joints before we invoice. Project leadership stays consistent start to finish.

Cost Of Waiting

Every Season Of Delay Makes The Fix Bigger.

Masonry failure is not a maintenance item. It is a cascade. A hairline mortar crack lets water in, freeze-thaw widens it, brick spalls, the wall destabilizes, and what was a modest repoint two winters ago becomes a full-envelope rebuild. On every bilco basement doors project we quote, the scope is always smaller now than it will be next year. The earlier you book a site visit, the smaller the job.

Do You Install New Bilco Doors Or Just Replace?
Both. We install new Bilco doors on existing basements (including the necessary masonry stair and waterproofing) and we replace failed Bilco assemblies with appropriate substrate rebuilds.
Does The Basement Stair Have To Be Rebuilt Every Time?
Not always. If the existing concrete or block stair is sound and the failure is purely in the door hardware or frame, a door-only replacement is the right scope. On older installations where the stair has shifted or cracked, the masonry has to be rebuilt first.
Can You Waterproof The Transition To The Foundation?
Yes. This is the key detail most installs miss. We use a bituminous or polymer membrane at the foundation-to-stair interface with a drainage board and termination bar, so water that reaches the outside of the stair wall has a path to drain away rather than into the basement.
Start Your Project

Ready To Discuss Your Bilco Basement Doors Project?

Call the Hamilton headquarters or submit the form. A specialist replies within one business day to confirm scope and schedule a site visit.

Call Now Get Estimate