What You Should Know About Walk Out Basement and Egress Window Construction

Ohio Home Doctor would like to share some our knowledge with you about what you should know about walk out basement and egress window construction.

Egress windows have many advantages besides being a smart financial decision. One, and my favorite, is the natural light the egress window allows into your gloomy basement.

Even the nicest finished basements always lack one very important thing, natural light.

Natural light livens up a room, allows for natural plants to flourish, and generally just makes people happier. Imagine sitting in your basement office or basement bedroom and being able to gaze out and see the sunny day around you.

This ability will undoubtedly make you smile and is just one advantage of having Ohio Home Doctor install an egress window for you.

Choosing an egress window contractor  in Dayton Ohio and the greater Miami Valley is a decision that must be made with care.  Do not be fooled by do-it-yourself blogs which can make it sound easy.  Installing an egress window is an involved and very technical task.

In order to install one, your foundation must be cut, yes the foundation which holds your house up.  Also the drainage system must be properly tied into your home’s existing drainage system. 

Be sure to ask potential egress window contractors how they intend to do this, and pay attention.  If you feel like they don’t know the answer, be concerned.  Improper installation can be disastrous and turn your potential gem into a never ending nightmare.

Also ask how they intend to cut the foundation.  If they say anything other than a track mounted hydraulic wet saw tell them, “ Thanks, but no thanks!”

Installing an egress window is not a job for a handyman or weekend warrior.

Be sure to select an insured, bonded member of the Better Business Bureau.

Ohio Home Doctor is proud to be Dayton Ohio’s premier egress window installer. We have installed every style of egress window well and have weeded out the low quality and over priced options for you.

According to Webster's dictionary,  the term "Egress" is defined as, “to emerge” or “a path out”.

The literal definition is very appropriate since egress windows provide just that, “a path out” through your typically impenetrable basement walls.

In the greater Dayton Ohio and Miami Valley area, the building codes dictate that any basement containing a bedroom or sleeping room must contain an egress window and approved egress window well system to facilitate occupants' escape in case of fire or other natural disaster.

Adding an egress window not only provides priceless peace of mind, but also adds value to your home, and increases your quality of life while spending time in your finished basement.

In Ohio, without a properly installed egress window, you as a homeowner cannot claim the finished square footage in your basement even if there is no bedroom.

When you list your home, the MLS listing will ignore all finished footage in your finished basement possibly causing potential buyers to pass over your listing, not knowing your home meets their square footage requirements.

This being said, installing an egress window and egress window well, yields incomparable returns on your investment.

The square footage of a typical basement has an equal amount of square footage as each floor above.  Imagine what adding a couple of bedrooms, a bathroom, and multiplying the total square feet in your home will do for its value.

In this housing market every seller needs every advantage he or she can get to stand out from the house down the street. Adding an egress window and egress window well in Dayton Ohio will do just that for you.

Ohio Home Doctor can install an egress window while we finish your basement, or in your already finished basement.

Installing egress windows while basement remodeling can maximize the cost effectiveness of both projects.

Cutting the foundation allows us to bring drywall, and other building materials, easily into the basement, an advantage which has obvious benefits if you have ever had to carry anything into yours. 

Also doing both projects simultaneously eliminates interior finishing costs.

Egress window installation codes in Dayton Ohio mirror those of national standards.

The window sill may be no more than 44 inches from the finished floor with a minimum net clear opening of 5.7 square feet.  This means when the window is in open position the accessible opening must be equal to or greater than 5.7 square feet.

The best type of window for achieving this requirement and minimizing the penetration through your home’s basement foundation walls are casement, or “crank out” windows.

When open, these windows provide nearly 100% of the window's rough opening size as an escape opening.  Code also has requirements for the type of window well and amenities the egress window well you select provides. Call today and we can schedule a time to discuss which options are best for you and your needs.

There is one last misconception I would like to clarify.

I have heard people argue, “ The only window I will put in my basement is glass block” because of security concerns.  I am here to tell you, a properly installed egress window can provide even more security than glass block windows.

This is because of the several security covers offered by various manufacturers, and the additional barrier when a potential thief must penetrate two obstacles instead of one.

Ohio Home Doctor also installs full egress walkout doors regardless of your home’s dirt grade.  We have several relatively inexpensive options to install a door entering and exiting your basement.

The possibilities this remodeling option will provide for you are endless.

We have installed many types of full egress walk out door and stair systems and have received positive feedback from other industry professionals on our innovative ideas, and cost effective techniques for achieving functional basement doors where people thought they could never exist.

Ohio Home Doctor will be happy to provide you with the egress window installation you deserve.

Let us show you how easy it can be!

Proudly serving the following communities: Beaverrcreek,Bellbrook, Centerville,Clayton, Dayton, Englewood, Fairborn, Franklin, Germantown, Huber Heights, Kettering, Lebanon, Mason, Miamisburg, Middletown, Monroe, Oakwood, Springboro,  Tipp City, Trenton, West Carrolton, West Chester, Wilimington, Vandalia and many more, just ask!

Call Ohio Home Doctor today at (937) 605-6882 and schedule a time to discuss the different options we have available and to receive a free estimate that meets your requirements and budget. 

Thank you for your time and I look forward to hearing from you.

                                                   Matt Geddis

                                           Ohio Home Doctor Inc.

While your here on this page, why not take a minute to quick jump over to our egress window suppliers and take a look at all the options there are to choose from.

Take a look here --->   http://www.WellCraftWells.com

             And Here --->   http://www.redi-exit.com

We hope this information about what you should know about walk out basement and egress window construction has helped you understand the conditions required for your walk out and egress window needs.