The basement bulkhead door is not only an entry point for homeowners, but can be one for water and pests.  Having a properly installed and flashed steel door is key to keep a rodent-free and dry basement.  In this case a makeshift plywood door was replaced with an all steel pre-fabricated door.  The stone walls were repointed to repel water, and the connection at the house was flashed to shed water. The house was soon to be re-sided, which is why the existing siding was cut away and left unfinished.