The Two Main Steps Of Egress Window Installation

If you're planning to fix up your basement so you can use it for additional living space, you'll need to install an egress window if your basement doesn't already have one. Egress windows are required by building codes so you can escape the basement if a fire breaks out.

These are larger than traditional basement windows and made so you can fit your entire body through when you need to escape. They also usually open into a well, so installation requires digging a well and installing a new window. Here's an overview of how it's done.

1. Dig The Well

You should consult your local codes regarding the minimum size for the well. If you want a well that's larger, you can build one so you can use the well for a sitting area too. However, you'll probably need a custom well wall and cover made because these usually come in standard sizes.

Once you've dug the well to the size you want, you may want to start working on the window and then finish the well once the window is in. Finishing the well involves putting a drain and gravel in the bottom so rain can drain away. You could also put a solid cover on top so rain can't get in the well.

The well will need some sort of wall and cover to keep people and animals from falling in and getting trapped. Also, the well has to be made so a person can climb out of it to safety since the purpose of the window and well is to allow you to escape from the basement.

2. Build The Window

You can enlarge a small basement window if it's in the right location for your new window or you can put the egress window wherever you want. You or a contractor need to cut through the basement wall with a saw to create the opening for the window. This can be done while standing in the well since the window opening will be below the level of your yard.

When the lines are cut for the window, the wall is knocked out with a sledgehammer. The pieces of concrete may need to be busted up so they aren't too heavy to lift for disposal. Once the opening is in the wall of your basement, a wood frame can be built and the window installed just like any other window.

The finishing touches for egress window installation include adding soil around the edges of the well to create a drainage slope for rain and planting grass seeds so the well blends in with your yard. For more information on egress window installation, contact a company near you.