Basement Window

Egress means an outlet or an exit, or escape route. So, a basement egress window is essentially an exit or route to escape, normally in case of fire. All this while these windows were small spaces, mainly to let in some amount of sunlight in the basement. The safety codes have undergone many changes, making such windows obsolete. It’s mandatory to have egress windows in any basement, bedroom or living area.

Plans showing a basement as an office or study, but using it as a bedroom after having got the plans approvaed, doesn’t work any longer. Any living space below or at ground level, which is large enough to be used as a bedroom and has a closet, no matter what name you give it, has to have some escape route, including an egress window. This requirement is often fulfilled by putting one in a bedroom that joins a living space.

Often, the installation process of an egress window is quite simple and can be executed within a day. First step is to dig out enough area in front of the window to put in the window. Digging a hole next to the foundation, which is at least 6 inches deeper than the bottom of the window, is helpful. As you require room enough for an adult to come out from the window, approximately 48 inch square area should be cleared out.

Having thus cleared the area in front of the window, you can score concrete and cut a hole where the window will be positioned. After cutting the area, using a 3-pound hammer and a chisel take out the concrete along with any bricks and mortar. A window box frame is built with pressure treated lumber and then pushed into the opening. It is attached by using concrete nails before the window box is pushed into place. This action necessitates handling by two people; one to hold the window box and the other nails it down to the provided place.

Having thus put the window box frame in its place, the area surrounding the window opening is sealed with a high quality caulk. Many a time the demolition process results to having chips and gaps around the edges of the frame; these need to be filled in with premixed mortar. After the area surrounding the window frame is repaired, the trim can be placed. A final run with caulk all over the seams is required for the basement egress window installation.

Finally, it’s time for well and drainage system to be positioned. The window well is already made and you need to put it in place and attach to the house. This is followed by replacing the soil and tamping it down firmly. Make sure to provide a slope away from the house to drain water away from the home. A drainage system should be designed to handle excess water during rainstorms.

The specifications of glass used on standard window are not the same as on these. As egress windows are a below ground level, for security measures stronger glass is used.