Basement egress windows are windows that provide a way to get out of the basement in case of emergency. Although older building codes did not require egress basement windows, you will need to follow current building code regulations if you are doing any renovations in your basement and will therefore be required to now include egress windows as part of your basement remodeling plans. The codes are especially strict if you are planning on putting a bedroom in your basement.
Basement Egress Windows: The Basics
Egress basement windows also must allow for easy opening so that entry and exit and can be made quickly. Most building regulation codes require egress windows in the basement of new homes or basement renovations, assuming the basement space is comprised of finished and habitable rooms. There are even stricter requirement if there will be a bedroom in the basement. Some window manufacturers that offer basement egress windows include Hurd, Escape, Monarch Holdings, Boman Kemp and Bilco.
Basement Egress Window Prices
Egress window installation cost will vary depending on the type of window you are installing and the level of difficulty involved in the installation. Casement, slider, double-hung and awning windows allow for easy entry and exit and are relatively inexpensive to purchase.
Where the expense starts adding up is in the installation. This can get rather pricey since most basements are made from cement or concrete and cutting through the walls to install a window can be a huge undertaking. If you have a basement with more above-ground space, the upper part of your walls may be made from wood studs and sheetrock, making the installation far easier, and therefore, far less expensive. Unless you are simply replacing a basement egress window that was already installed, installing these types of windows is not an easy DIY project.
Entry Level Pricing: $75 – $150
Standard Pricing: $150 – $250
High End Pricing: $250 – $500
Egress Window Installation Cost: $1,100 to $1,550.
For more pricing details, refer to our page on Egress Window Cost.
Basement Egress Windows: The Advantages
The most obvious advantage to installing a basement egress window is safety. By having an emergency exit in your basement that is large enough to allow entry and exit, it makes your family and visitors safer since, if there is a fire, there is an easy and quick form of exit. Firefighters can also enter your home more easily in the event of a fire. Aside from the safety issues, however, egress windows can also make your basement more livable. They can add light, making your basement brighter and also increasing its warmth due to the sunlight streaming in. In fact, since they make your basement look and feel more livable, it can add to the overall value of your home, so it is a good investment in your home’s value. Window wells outside of the window can also be used to house plants and flowers, adding to the aesthetic beauty of what you can see from the basement (assuming they don’t block the egress through the window).
Basement Egress Windows: The Disadvantages
The primary disadvantage of basement egress windows is that they make your home more vulnerable to intruders. Since the window is by its very design large enough to fit a person through it, an egress window makes for an easy target for criminals. It is also located at the ground floor, an easy place for intruders to enter. Therefore, it is important to make sure that you have secure locks and latches on all basement windows.
Egress Windows Code And Requirements
Older building codes typically didn’t require egress basement windows code, but stricter requirements are now required. The International Residential Code, which creates minimum regulations governing one and two family residences, requires egress windows if you have a finished and habitable space in your basement or if there is a bedroom. The code also requires window wells outside the egress windows. The technical specifications for egress windows require that the opening be a minimum of 18″ wide by 30″ high. The windows need to offer an unimpeded opening of at least 5.7 sq ft. There are maximums set on the size of the windows as well – these are 54″ wide and 76″ high, and windows cannot exceed a maximum combined measurement of 108″. Basement egress windows must also be installed no more than 44″ above the basement floor.
Egress Window Manufacturers
The following are egress window manufacturers that make windows that are acceptable in many states. Single hungs often give you a bit more clearance than a double hung so you therefore have more options with this window type. ALWAYS check with your contractor and verify that the window passes state requirements
for an egress.
Reliabilt
Double Hung
Simonton Windows
5500 Single Hung &
Colonial Casement (casement that looks like a double hung)
Advanced Window
Inswing Casement
Force V
Double Hung
Related Topics
Basement Windows
Egress Window Pictures
Casement Windows
Double-Hung Windows
Window Replacement Cost Estimator
