A lot of the homes in the Northwest Ohio area do not have the proper underground access to their basement living space. This is particularly true in older homes because the concept of egress windows was not popular when the home was built. If this is true for your home, here’s what you need to know.
What is an egress window?
The most simple definition of an egress window is a point of entry and exit to and from your basement. It acts as a safe escape route in case your home has a fire and other points of exit are blocked, or are too dangerous to pass through. Even the law requires that they be big enough for a full-grown man be able to pass through them.
The Benefits of Egress Windows
The benefits of egress windows are numerous. Installing them over your existing basement windows has many benefits and very few drawbacks. In fact, egress windows add value to your home the minute construction is complete.
In addition to making your home safer, egress windows also allow natural light to flood into your basement, turning an otherwise dark room into a well-lit and functional area. Additionally, for finished basements, an egress window makes for a great addition to an already fantastic space.
Egress windows also address a home’s safety concerns by installing a route of escape in the case of fire. An installed egress window in every room in the basement ensures that every person in the home has access to a safe exit at all times.
If you are interested in adding value to your home, an egress window should be your first priority. Not only does it add value in the event of a home sale, it also stands a good chance of increasing your home’s square footage. By adding an extra bedroom with an egress window in your basement, you could recover up to 20-percent of your cost of installation.
Need extra comfort in your basement living area? Tired of your tiny, dingy basement windows? Then an egress window is the way to go. Not only do they allow for additional light to pour in, when opened, they act as a high quality basement ventilator, letting in natural, clean air.
They increase your home’s aesthetic value from the inside out. Since a large variety of materials can be used in the construction of your egress windows, you can make them a focal point in more ways than one.
If waterproofing your basement is on your list, an egress window installed in place of an old, leaky window will stop unwanted water from entering your basement. Plus, with new window technology, you can wave goodbye to condensation building on your basement windows like in the past. A new egress window solves basement water problems and gives your basement a new lease on life.
Are there any negatives to installing an egress window?
About the only negative surrounding a project like this is cost. But, if you’ve budgeted correctly for the install, the costs will be returned to you in the property value of your home.
Keep in mind, due to building codes, egress windows aren’t suited for a DIY project. For a solid build, one that is up to code and follows all standards, it is highly recommended that an expert is called in to perform the installation.
For more information on how we can help you with your egress window installation, please don’t hesitate to contact us for an estimate.
Kevin Oberhouse was raised in Toledo with 7 siblings. Dawn and Kevin have four kids.
The Oberhouse family lives in the house Kevin built when with his first crew. Kevin’s parents invited more than 100 foster children into their home throughout his life. Kevin believes this part of his life really helped to build empathy for others.
Kevin has a degree in civil engineering and went on to get an MBA as well as multiple other certifications in structural systems, egress systems, air quality, and commercial and residential roofing, among many others.
Toledo Basement Repairs promises to treat you and your project with respect and our best professional judgment. There is plenty of work out there and Toledo Basement Repair will not push you into a system that you do not fully understand or feel comfortable with.
