When you waterproof your basement, you’ll want to be able to count on it to be dry — and to stay dry from that point on. If your basement is flooding from the stairs and hatchway entryway, then the job is not done.
Hatchway entrances are typically constructed separately from the foundation walls. This entryway is usually designed as a concrete shell that’s bolted on to the foundation walls after they’re built. Often, stairs will come already built into the pre-cast entryway.
After the hatchway is installed in place, 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.

Leaking hatchway doors are a nuisance for homeowners who’d like their basement to be dry — especially in a finished basement.
We install our solutions quickly and back them with a lifetime warranty. To schedule your basement waterproofing quote free of charge and with no obligation, contact us today! We serve throughout Georgia, including Decatur, Marietta, Atlanta and many surrounding areas nearby.
Where Basement Stairways Flood
Hatchway entrances leak from three critical points:
Metal hatchway doors are not flush with the concrete frame they’re attached to. As rain builds up on the doors, it will slide down the doors and pool on the concrete around the edges of the doors.
The concrete shell of the hatchway is mounted to the foundation walls via bolts, which are drilled through the concrete of the foundation.
Like any concrete structure, a hatchway entrance will begin to form cracks over time. Water will flood through these cracks, move to the stairs and end up flooding into your basement area.
Once water builds up in a hatchway entrance, the puddles will expand into the basement.
Stopping Flooding Through Hatchway Doors



No matter how water is flooding into your home from the hatchway doors, our AquaStop AquaGrate™ Hatchway Door System is a great way to keep it out of your basement space.
The AquaStop AquaGrate™ 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 AquaStop AquaGrate™ is meant to be used as part of an existing perimeter drain system. It spans the staircase, 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 can be extended inside the hatchway itself.
Other Uses for AquaGrate™
AquaGrate™ is fully compatible in homes that have a radon mitigation system installed. A simple ball-and cup mechanism seals the drain when not in use. We also sometimes recommended this system for use along garage doorways, as well as for other entrances where water may intrude into your home.
We Can Stop Your Hatchway Door from Flooding Your Basement!
Whether your hatchway doors are leaking or you have some other basement flooding problem, your local waterproofing experts at AquaGuard Foundation Solutions 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 — all the time! Contact us today to schedule your free basement waterproofing quote!
Each free quote comes with no obligation and includes an on-site inspection, personal consultation, and free written cost quote. We serve the Georgia area, including Marietta, Atlanta, Decatur and many nearby areas.