Egress Window Installation in a Basement

Experienced Egress Window Installation

Call SeepageSeal at (630) 474-5325 for more information and a free estimate for safety sake.

You?re in your basement, cuddled up with your spouse on the sofa, both of you watching a favorite show on television. Nearby, your children are stretched out on the floor, two of them playing a game, the other putting together some toy blocks.

Suddenly, the fire alarm upstairs goes off, and smoke begins seeping under the only basement door. The doorknob is hot, so you know it?s too dangerous to get out of the basement that way. You look around frantically for another exit ? only to realize that the basement windows are too small for anyone to squeeze through.

This should never happen to your family, or any other family for that matter. And as long as you have installed egress windows in the basement of your home ? it never will.

SeepageSeal is your egress window installation expert in Woodridge, IL, and surrounding communities. Call us today at (630) 474-5325 for a free consultation and estimate.

What is an Egress Window?

When a basement window opening is large enough to serve as a secondary exit in an emergency, it?s called an egress window. Egress windows are required to meet building safety codes for basements used as a bedroom, living space, office, or workroom.

Installing an egress window in your basement will increase your ability to use the room for purposes other than utility and storage and provide you with important peace of mind. It?s something that you hope you?ll never need to use, but when you need it, an egress window can save your life and the lives of your loved ones and guests.

Benefits of Egress Windows

In addition to the safety factor, egress windows have other benefits. They can dramatically increase the amount of natural light that flows into your basement. They make your basement look and feel more inviting. They are available in several window types, and they can be dressed with various treatments that add extra style to your basement space.

Finally, egress windows increase your home’s value. Finished basements can only be included in livable square footage if they meet all building code requirements, including the presence of egress windows that meet specifications. Many buyers will not consider looking at a home that does not have egress windows installed, let alone purchasing one.

Egress Window Requirements

In older homes, especially those built before the 1940s, basements were never intended to be used as living or sleeping areas. They were created to serve as utility, storage, and laundry rooms and were typically given only small, narrow windows (sometimes, no windows at all).

Egress Window Sizing

Building codes now mandate basement window sizes. The intent is to ensure they can be used for egress purposes for building occupants and ingress for emergency crews such as firemen.

According to the International Residential Code (2018 revision), basement egress windows in a one- or two-family home up to three stories tall must be at least 20” wide by 24” tall when open, with a net clear opening of at least 821 square inches or 5.7 square feet. The windowsill must begin no more than 44 inches above the basement floor.

Do your existing basement windows measure up? If not, you need to install larger ones to meet current building code requirements.

Egress Window Wells

Building codes also require that windows situated beneath ground level must include a well or open space between the basement wall and the surrounding dirt and vegetation. The window well must be at least 36” wide and 36” long and as deep as necessary to clear the bottom of the window frame. If the window well exceeds 44” deep, then a fixed ladder or steps must be added.

You can add steps made of concrete blocks or timber. Many homeowners also include landscaping features in the window well, such as crushed rock, pebbles, or even potted plants.

Basement egress windows can be located beneath a deck or porch as long as enough clearance exists for an average-sized adult to exit through them. In other words, there should be at least 36” between the top of the window well and the bottom of the deck or porch joists.

Additional Factors

Because they are primarily for purposes of entry and escape, basement egress windows must open from the inside. Basement egress windows must also open completely, with no obstruction from the window sash. Anything covering the windows from the outside – such as screens, grills, bars, etc. – must be removable from the inside without needing a key or any tools.

Local building codes may include additional requirements for basement egress windows. SeepageSeal can advise you of any local requirements or guidelines for homes in your neighborhood. Contact us today at (630) 474-5325 for a free consultation and estimate.

Types of Egress Windows

Several window types meet building code requirements and work well for basement egress window purposes.

Single-Hung Windows

Single-hung windows, also called single-sash windows, have an upper sash that doesn’t move and a lower one that does. In other words, the bottom part of the window slides up and down within the jamb of the window while the upper part is fixed in place. Ventilation moves through the bottom sash only.

Double-Hung Windows

With a double-hung (or double-sash) window, both sashes move up and down within the jamb of the window, and ventilation moves through both sashes if both are open. Thanks to the scientific principle that heat rises, warmer air escapes through the top sash, and cooler air flows through the bottom sash.

Casement Windows

If you don’t have a lot of wall space, casement windows are a good option since they require a minimum of just 8 square feet of net opening space. Similar in operation to a door, casement windows swing free on a hinge to create a wide opening. They are opened and closed by rotating a crank-style handle. Some models include a crank that can fold into the frame to avoid interfering with window treatments.

Sliding Windows

Sliding windows are a perfect choice when you want to let in the most light possible and have plenty of wall space. Sliding windows will require at least 16 square feet of net opening space.

To open, the windows slide from left to right. Since the opening is only half as wide as the whole window and the sash slides horizontally, sliding windows must be wider and taller than casement styles.

How Much Does an Egress Window Cost?

The cost of professionally installing a basement egress window in your home typically ranges between $2,000 and $6,000, depending on several factors. This price includes parts and labor for the window hardware, foundation cutting and sealing, installing and sealing the window, and constructing the window well and steps.

Remember that once you have a properly installed egress window, you can include the square footage in your basement space in your home’s total livable square footage measurement to sell the house. This usually adds far more to the home’s market value and selling price than the homeowner invested in egress window installation for all but the smallest basements.

Egress Window Installation

Do not attempt to install a basement egress window on your own, even if you’re adept at do-it-yourself projects. In addition to meeting all building code requirements, proper waterproofing and drainage work are essential, or the project can do more harm than good.

SeepageSeal performs all aspects of egress window installation work and takes care of your property, keeping dust out of your basement and equipment tracks out of your yard. Described in the simplest terms, here is our four-step process for installing your new egress window:

1. We begin by excavating a hole to allow for your basement egress window installation. This hole serves a dual purpose, as it will become your window well.
2. We cut the foundation as necessary to install the window frame. We are foundation experts and know exactly how to go about this to avoid moisture seepage later (after all, SeepageSeal is our name!).
3. We install and seal the window frame and test all components to ensure everything is functioning correctly.
4. We install concrete pavers to line your window well and build steps in place if needed due to depth.

SeepageSeal offers a 10-year product warranty and a 5-year workmanship guarantee on all egress window installations. We also verify all associated code regulations and manage the process of obtaining needed building permits.

For More Info on Egress Windows, Call SeepageSeal

Whatever your reason is for adding an egress window to your basement – safety and peace of mind, adding more useable space for your family, or increasing the value of your property – the experts at SeepageSeal have the training, experience, and quality window products that you need.

For a free, no-obligation consultation and estimate on egress windows in Woodridge, IL, and surrounding areas, call SeepageSeal today at (630) 474-5325.

Top-Rated Egress Window Services in Woodridge Illinois