Adding an Egress Window in Akron
Many Akron homeowners finish basements to gain space. A basement bedroom needs an emergency exit, which usually means an egress window.
Request a window installerWhy it matters
An egress window lets people escape and responders get in during a fire.
Size and height
Codes set minimum opening sizes and maximum sill heights; check with your building department.
Foundation work
Cutting a new opening in a foundation wall takes the right tools and care.
Window well
The well must be large enough to climb out and needs steps or a ladder if deep.
Drainage
A drain or gravel base keeps water from pooling against the window.
Covers
Covers keep out snow and leaves but must open from inside.
Window type
Casements and sliders often provide the needed clear opening.
Permits
Expect to involve your city's building department.
Timing
Dry weather makes excavation easier.
Next
See egress and basement windows.
Utilities
Locate buried lines before digging the well.
Light bonus
An egress window also brings daylight into a basement room.
Inside the room
The window should open into a space where a person can step up easily. A sturdy step or built-in bench under a high sill helps, as long as it doesn't block the opening or make the window harder to reach in smoke and darkness.
Finishing the opening
Inside, the cut foundation edges are covered with a wood or vinyl return and trim. Insulating around the frame and sealing it well keeps the new window from becoming a cold, damp spot in an otherwise finished basement.
Cost factors
Price depends on wall type, how deep the well is, how much digging and hauling is needed, the window chosen and whether the opening sits near a driveway, deck or buried utility line. Ask for those items to be listed separately.
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