Architectural details of a house often serve as a pleasing way to extend character and uniqueness. They can also be a creative way to disguise certain elements of a home’s plumbing, electrical, or HVAC pathways. This little trick often explains the reason why houses have bulkheads.
Where a bulkhead appears in a house depends on the design and function of the interior rooms. If the purpose and appearance of bulkheads are still a mystery to you, read on for a better understanding.
What Does An Interior Bulkhead Look Like?
Bulkheads can take on different shapes and sizes. However, one common denominator is being set around or atop a ceiling. A bulkhead can sit above a row of cabinets in a kitchen, appearing flush with the walls.
For example, a row of cabinets may have open space from the top of the cabinets to the ceiling. This leaves room for placing decorative items. If this space is enclosed with what appears to be a wall running flush with the cabinet fronts, you have a bulkhead.
Another example could be a dropped ceiling square in the center of a ceiling or around the edges.
Any room can have a bulkhead. The most common areas are the kitchen, the bathroom, or a finished basement. This empty box serves as a disguise for water pipes, electrical wiring, or HVAC vents.
What Does a Basement Bulkhead Look Like?
A basement bulkhead is quite different in appearance from an interior bulkhead. It changes the reason why houses have bulkheads. Also referred to as a walkout basement, this bulkhead takes on the shape of an entrance that leads directly to the outside from the basement.
These openings were quite popular in homes with no interior opening to the basement in past centuries. Measuring approximately 4 1/2 feet across, it was convenient for moving items in and out of the house. They were designed to last on a concrete slope with wood or steel doors that opened outward.
Before, basements were used as living spaces and served only as cellars or tornado shelters. However, as homes began to expand for more room, the basement was finished, and interior access was added. Some building codes require 2 separate entrances from the basement. This bulkhead satisfies that request.
The stairway behind a basement bulkhead serves as needed space for pumps, wiring, or pipes without having to design interior bulkheads in the ceiling. Some homeowners use this space as extra storage for seasonal items. The exit door has taken on new shapes over the years.
In the 1800s, these structures were common, especially in the country’s northeastern part. They can still be seen in older homes and are still quite useful.
The History Of Bulkheads
Bulkheads were first used as a term in the 1580s. Referring to a ship, the head was considered the front of the ship, and the bulk was an enclosed cavity. This space was created out of necessity for:
- Increased frame stability
- Help to limit flooding
- Create functional compartments
- Prevent the spread of fire
By the 1800s, it was discovered that bulkheads could serve expanded purposes for water-bearing properties and buildings prone to moisture.
By the 1950s, residential areas began creating basement bulkheads for convenience in moving items in and out of homes and extra storage for equipment, plumbing, and wiring.
How Are Bulkheads Constructed?
Bulkheads in houses require little planning. As long as the design is square and box-like, it can fit any type of ceiling or wall. Materials common in constructing an interior bulkhead include wood, drywall, plaster, or stainless steel.
Wood is discouraged as there is always the chance of water damage and rotting. Depending on the amount of space needed is a factor in the size of your bulkhead. Wiring does not require as much room as ductwork.
However, extra room will be required if your bulkhead is used as a crawl space.
Basement entrance bulkheads are normally made from concrete or stone because of the ground’s dampness. Lightweight aluminum has replaced the old wood and metal slanted doors that were popular decades ago.
This further protects the stairway from water and moisture getting trapped inside. A waterproof doorway and door are often placed at the end of the stairway that opens into the basement. Lately, there have been different designs of exterior doors entering the market to give the home a more updated look.
Why Houses have Bulkheads Today
Today, most new houses are not designed with an extra basement bulkhead entrance unless local rules require a second entrance. Older homes may have this feature, and it can come in handy. A bulkhead can be removed, but why get rid of useful space and extra insulation?
It is easier to repair an outdated bulkhead door than dig up your yard. You can request a new home with an exterior bulkhead and an updated door.
Interior bulkheads have increased in construction in recent years. They make excellent accents in living spaces and can expand the appearance of space.
Using different tones of paint, a ceiling can take on a nice dimension. Bulkheads also do away with drop ceilings that are flimsy and prone to dirt and have a short life. They are many creative ways to make interior bulkheads work in your home without much work.
Understanding why homes have bulkheads can give you a new perspective on how your home has been constructed and why. This explanation can also arm you with new knowledge for remodeling jobs or in searching for a new home. Regardless if a bulkhead is located inside or outside a home, it can be a nice and useful feature.