Basement egress windows 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 an egress as part of your basement remodeling plans. The codes are especially strict if you are planning on putting a bedroom in your basement.
Bottom Line: While these projects can be expensive, they also provide additional space and functionality to any home.
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Basics Of Basement Egress Windows
Egress basement windows also must allow for easy opening so that entry and exit and can be made quickly. All building regulation codes require a basement egress window in a basement of new homes or basement renovations if the space is finished and usable. Homes that have a bedroom in the basement space require even stricter codes by the county.
Egress Window Cost
Entry Level: $500 – $800 installed
Mid Range: $800 – $1200 installed
High End: $1200 – $1800 installed
The cost of an egress project will vary depending on the type of window you are installing and the level of difficulty involved in the installation. Casements, sliders and double-hungs are the most common options.
Installation Costs
Where the expense starts adding up is in the installation. Cutting through the walls of cement etc. is very labor intensive. If you have 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. Simply put, installing an egress window is difficult, unless your project is replacing the window only.
Advantages Of Basement Egress Windows
The most obvious advantage to installing a basement egress window is safety. By having an emergency exit 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 the space 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 Window Disadvantages
The primary disadvantage of a basement egress is that it 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 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 installed secure locks and latches.
Codes And Requirements
All building codes now require a basement egress window. 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 or if there is a bedroom. The code also requires window wells outside the egress. 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″. Lastly, installation companies must install the basement egress windows no more than 44″ above the floor.
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