Can You Install Egress Windows In A Concrete Basement Wall?
In any part of the house, having an escape route is important. In the event of a fire, home invasion, or other situation when a main exit may not be accessible, access to an egress window is extremely important. The egress emergency window opens fully, which can allow a standard-sized person to slip through the window when needed. The basement tends to be one of the most common installation sites for egress windows. However, basement walls are concrete, so installing them after construction can pose a few challenges. Take a look at what to know about installing egress windows in the concrete walls in your basement.
You will likely need the help of a concrete contractor
The concrete walls in the basement are not as simple to cut to install a window as the lumber and walls in the rest of the house. Whether the walls in your basement are made of cement blocks or a solid slab, the material will have to be sawed through to create an opening. And, because the wall acts as the foundation of the house, this process is one that should be done by an experienced professional. A concrete contractor will use a concrete saw to make the cuts in a way that does not cause damage to the wall that stands partly as the home's foundation.
The exterior ground may have to be opened up a bit
If your basement does not have windows at all, go outside and take a look at the space between the ground and your home's basement walls. If the ground is butted directly against the wall and you don't see much of that wall, some ground may have to be moved to clear a path for the egress window to open. The goal of installing egress windows is to create a safe exit point, which is not possible if the ground is in the way of getting the window open.
Egress window installation in a concrete wall can take some time
Egress window installation can usually be finished within a day. However, having these windows installed in a concrete wall can involve several more steps than usual. For example, once the concrete wall is cut and the window installed, the contractor may have to use mortar mix to reseal the wall around the window and work on the exterior of the home to create an exit point. Therefore, you can expect the window installation project to take a few days.