Installing egress windows in your Westchester home remodeling
Table of Contents
An egress window is a door that separates a first-floor bedroom or basement from a second-floor garage or storage room, essentially an emergency exit window. The purpose of this post is threefold: to inform you of how long and what constitutes a decent egress window, and how to make one yourself.
So, what exactly defines an egress window, and how much does it cost to install one?
The size of your egress window is the first parameter you need to consider when installing one. You should make sure your new opening is no smaller than the combined width and height of the door you’re planning on replacing. That’s right – even doors with the most cutting-edge cutting mechanism don’t come cheap. Remember, those aesthetics are important, but safety features are just as crucial.
If you’re looking at egress window sizes concerning opening up the room to your garage, consider that the bigger the opening, the more considerable square footage your garage will have to fit through. This means that, in general, you should choose an egress window that’s no wider than three feet for each door in your home, or else you’ll have problems fitting through all the doors in your home if you have a huge garage.
The second parameter is the type of window opening you’re going to install. There are two basic styles, single-hung, and double-hung egress window installations. Each one has its pros and cons. Let’s explore these possibilities further.
Differences between Single-hung and Double-hung egress windows
Single-hung windows are straightforward to install. However, they require a certain amount of work to get them functioning correctly. You must first remove old windows to make space for the single hung unit, which requires unscrewing the bottom and lifting it up. Once this is done, you’ll need to install the frame, which is usually a simple affair, depending on the particular window. In addition, in case of an emergency, you might need to cut holes in the wall in order to install the window.
Double-hung egress windows, on the other hand, require a professional to install. Not only do you have to remove old windows to set up the new one, but you also have to set up the frame in the wall, which is often a much more involved process. Because the window is set in the wall, it may be difficult to access all the wall areas to cut the window well. These windows are also more expensive because of the cost of materials, as well as labor.
For an egress window in a basement, you have to be even more careful. This type of emergency requires that you quickly set up a way for people to get into the basement. In this case, it’s better to invest in a heavy-duty hatchway door rather than a simple egress window. Heavy-duty doors can withstand the weight of a person as well as a ton of water. They’re also more secure because they lock all the way closed. This is far better than a simple window and certainly more convenient for an emergency than trying to get the hatch open from the outside.
For an egress window in a basement, you have to be even more careful. This type of emergency requires that you quickly set up a way for people to get into the basement. In this case, it’s better to invest in a heavy-duty hatchway door rather than a simple egress window. Heavy-duty doors can withstand the weight of a person as well as a ton of water. They’re also more secure because they lock all the way closed. This is far better than a simple.
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