This is one of the most common questions we get — and it’s a great one to ask, because the right answer depends entirely on your home, your opening, and how long you want your solution to last.
We sell all three types of cellar doors. We’re an authorized Bilco dealer, we carry Gordon, and we manufacture Connecticut Cellar Doors fully welded steel doors, custom fit for your home. When we walk you through this comparison, we’re not steering you toward our most expensive product. We’re helping you make the right decision for your home. As our founder’s father always said: ‘We’re too poor to buy cheap.’ That philosophy guides every recommendation we make.
The Full Comparison: All Three Options Side by Side
| Category | CCD (fully welded steel) | Bilco | Gordon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Available in CT from | Connecticut Cellar Doors (exclusive) | Multiple CT installers (CCD is authorized dealer) | Multiple CT installers |
| Custom sizing | Yes (any size, any shape) | Standard sizes only | Standard sizes only |
| Construction | Fully welded — no screws | Mechanically fastened with screws | Welded |
| Structural integrity | Will not bow or rack | Can bow if modified | Can bow if modified |
| Modification voids warranty? | No — built to spec | Yes — cutting voids it immediately | Yes |
| Gauge steel | Heavy duty | — | — |
| Hinges | Heavy-duty 1/2″ bar stock | 3/8″ bar stock | Pin hinges |
| Handle | Cast aluminum (no rust) | Standard (may rust or degrade) | Standard |
| Finish process | Optional 6-step powder coating (sandblasted, baked finish) | Primed, paint-ready (paint peels) | Primed, paint-ready |
| Powder coat available? | Yes (CCD exclusive process) | No | No |
| Finish warranty | Included in CCD warranty | None | None |
| Manufactured in USA | Yes — American steel, American workers | Yes | Yes — Southington, CT |
| Premium / custom config | Available | Not available | Not available |
| 2-year workmanship guarantee (CCD) | Yes | No | No |
| 10-year structural warranty | Yes | No | No |
| Best for | Most homeowners — standard or non-standard openings | Homeowners who specifically prefer the Bilco brand name | Budget-focused installs on standard openings |
Vinyl, Fiberglass, and Plexiglass — What You Should Know
You may see fiberglass, vinyl, or plexiglass cellar doors marketed as ‘rust-free’ or as letting in ‘natural light.’ Here’s the honest picture after 10,000+ installations in Connecticut. Below is the breakdown by material — what each one is and what goes wrong with it.
Plexiglass
Some homeowners are drawn to plexiglass cellar doors because they let sunlight into a typically dark area. We understand the appeal — but in New England weather, plexiglass is a bad choice for several reasons:
- Plexiglass cracks under temperature swings — and Connecticut goes from 95°F summers to sub-zero winters
- Plexiglass doesn’t breathe — moisture builds up underneath and creates condensation problems
- You can’t bolt the door tight — the materials flex too much for proper sealing
Vinyl
Vinyl is sometimes marketed as a low-maintenance, rust-free alternative. In Connecticut’s climate, here’s what actually happens:
- Vinyl framing expands and contracts with temperature, which means doors don’t line up as the seasons change
- Squirrels will chew through vinyl — it’s not as rare as you’d think
- Bows easily under load — New England snow accumulation will deform the panels
- Easy to break into — vinyl doesn’t offer the security of a steel door
Fiberglass
Fiberglass doors look modern and resist rust — but they have their own set of problems in our climate:
- Deteriorates over time once the gel-coat comes off — UV exposure breaks it down within years
- The gelcoat paint fades quickly in UV exposure
- Squirrels and other rodents can chew through fiberglass
- Cracks when anchored down tightly to a masonry surface
- Mold can grow on the surface in Connecticut’s humid conditions
Steel is tried and true. It handles New England’s freeze-thaw cycles, snow load, and humidity. Plexiglass, vinyl, and fiberglass don’t.
The Honest Comparison: Bilco vs. Connecticut Cellar Doors Welded
We’re an authorized Bilco dealer, and we respect the brand — Bilco has 90+ years of history and is a name most homeowners recognize. We install Bilco doors regularly, and we install them correctly. If you want a Bilco, we’ll do a great job on it.
Here’s something most companies won’t tell you: at Connecticut Cellar Doors, the labor cost is the same whether you choose a Bilco or our fully welded steel door. The price you pay for installation doesn’t change based on which door you pick — only the door itself changes. (See how cellar door installation pricing actually works in CT.) So the real question becomes: at the same installed price, which door is the better fit for your home?
Here are the specific spec differences. You decide what matters to you:
- Welded construction — no screws means no mechanical failure points and no corrosion entry points
- Heavy duty steel — heavier than Bilco’s standard gauge
- Heavy-duty 1/2″ bar stock hinges (vs. Bilco’s 3/8″ bar stock) for increased durability
- Cast aluminum handle — no rust, no plastic degradation
- Optional 6-step powder coating protection process available — Bilco offers no equivalent
- 10-year structural manufacturer’s warranty — Bilco’s 5 year prorated warranty coverage depends on the installer and is voided by any modification
- Same install price. Different door.
The Bilco might be the right choice for you if:
- You specifically want the Bilco brand name
- You’ve had a Bilco before and want to replace like-for-like
- Your opening is a standard Bilco size (no modification needed)
The Connecticut Cellar Doors fully welded steel door might be the right choice for you if:
- Your opening is non-standard (any modification voids the Bilco warranty)
- You want the heavier gauge steel and heavy-duty 1/2″ bar stock hinges
- You want the powder-coat finish option
- You want the welded construction (no screw entry points for moisture)
When a Gordon Door Makes Sense
Gordon is the value leader — manufactured in Southington, CT for 65+ years. Solid welded construction at the lowest installed price. If your opening is standard and your budget is tighter, a Gordon installed correctly by a professional is a reasonable solution.
- Good for: Standard openings on a tighter budget
- Good for: Homeowners who want a Connecticut-made product
- Not ideal for: Non-standard openings or premium finish requirements
Connecticut Cellar Doors Fully Welded Steel Doors
Here’s something most people don’t know when they start comparing cellar door options: the labor cost for installation is the same whether you choose a Connecticut Cellar Doors fully welded steel door, a Bilco, or a Gordon. So when you compare them side by side at the same installed price, the question becomes: which door do you want?
Every Connecticut Cellar Doors fully welded steel door includes:
- Fully welded construction — no screws, no mechanical fasteners, no corrosion entry points
- Heavy duty steel — heavier than Bilco or Gordon, stronger and longer-lasting
- Heavy-duty 1/2″ bar stock hinges for increased durability — not the pin hinges some competitors use
- Cast aluminum handle — no rust, no plastic to degrade or crack
- Optional 6-step powder coating protection process with a baked finish to last years longer
- Made in the USA from American steel by American workers
- Exclusive to Connecticut Cellar Doors — no other installer in CT can offer this product
What About Buying from Home Depot and Hiring a Handyman?
The math looks appealing on the surface — a discount-store door plus a Chuck-in-a-Truck handyman seems cheaper. But here’s what’s missing:
- Handymen typically won’t do masonry work — they bolt the door to whatever surface is there
- They don’t install foundation plates as needed — your hatchway won’t seal as well
- They have no ability to custom-size the door — non-standard openings get cut, warranty immediately gone
- The taillight warranty is a real phenomenon in this industry — accountability disappears with them
- You get none of our four iron-clad guarantees
The money you save upfront often becomes a much larger fix two years later. We’ve replaced thousands of these installations — read more about the common cellar door problems we see every week.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can you install a Bilco or Gordon door, or do you only do your welded door?
- We install all three — Connecticut Cellar Doors fully welded steel doors, Bilco, and Gordon. We’re an authorized Bilco dealer. The labor cost is the same regardless of which door you choose. We’ll recommend what’s right for your home based on your opening and what matters to you, not what costs more.
- How do I know if my opening is standard or non-standard?
- We’ll measure it during your free on-site assessment. This matters more with Bilco and Gordon than with our fully welded steel door — standard manufactured doors come in fixed sizes, and any modification to fit a non-standard opening voids the manufacturer’s warranty. Connecticut Cellar Doors fully welded steel doors are built to your exact dimensions, so the sizing question doesn’t carry the same risk.
- Is the Connecticut Cellar Doors fully welded door really that much better, or is it just more expensive?
- Our fully welded steel door installs at the same labor price as a Bilco — the door cost is what changes between options. For a non-standard opening, the fully welded door is the only correct answer. For a standard opening, both Bilco and our fully welded door are good choices — see our full guide to picking the best cellar door for New England.
Replaced our Bilco door. The installation team was awesome. Showed up on time, explained everything I needed to know, finished and clean up after them. Highly recommend. May not be the cheapest, but they are the best, both team and product.
