A common question hear all the time is "what is an egress window" ? Essentially an egress window is a fire escape window for any occupied finished basement in the country. The requirement became part of the International Residential Code in 1997 that all basements require an egress window. From experience throughout the years I have concluded that about 90% of our calls are from customers that are looking to sell or in the middle of selling and find they are in violation. Not installing one will hold up the closing of your home which in some cases can be months which can be a huge burden on both buyer/seller.
Customers always ask what is involved and what is the cost of an egress window. Many different factors play into the cost and installation. On average an egress window ranges 3k-5k within reason. Not a bad investment considering the work involved and what you get for it. Just peace in mind is worth it knowing that your loved ones will be protected in case of an emergency.
What are the requirements of an egress window?:
Minimum net clear opening of 5.7 square feet
Minimum net clear opening height of 24"
Minimum net clear opening width of 20"
Window well must be 9 square feet
Maximum 44" sill height from finished floor
Maximum 44" height from inside window well
Any heights over 44" require a ladder installed
Ladders shall be affixed permanently with width of at least 12 inches; shall project at least 3" from wall and ladder treads should not exceed 18" on center
What can determine the cost when installing an egress window?:
Removal of trees in front of location where window is to be installed
Commonly asked questions:
How long will it take to install an egress window? Typically 2-5 days
Will there be any dust during the project? Yes, as with any construction you can expect some dust. We have a system though that keeps dust at nominal levels
What if there are any gas/water/electrical lines in wall? We will move at an additional cost; unfortunately we cannot determine that until wall has been opened
Will not having an egress window hold up my closing? Absolutely, if you have a finished basement you need one and 90% of our calls are for this reason
Will an egress window increase the value of my home? Any upgrade will increase the value. Besides more ventilation and light, you bring your basement to code and also protect your loved ones in case of an emergency
What kind of window will you be using? We use an Anderson 400 series casement window with a 22" net clear opening
Installing an egress window will also improve light and ventilation for your basement. Basements are always a breeding ground for mold and mildew as they are underground and create moisture. Adding light and ventilation will cut down your chances of toxic mold and mildew forming. Many people add a dehumidifier also to help remove moisture from their basement especially during the hot humid months of summer. Weather you are looking to sell or keep your home, an egress window is a great investment that brings safety and added value to your home!!!
Its becoming more common around the country for customers to be installing egress windows in their basements. National code has been in effect for years requiring an egress window for safety measures for you and your family. Most recently in the past few years we have noticed a rise in egress window installations due to the fact that local building departments have been forcing them more and violations are being issued to customers that dont have one. These violations mostly come up when buying/selling a home, finishing basement or refinancing forcing the customer to install one in a timely matter before you can sell or do any other work to your basement.
Why you might need an egress window installed:
Buying/selling your home
Finishing your basement
Need more light and ventilation in your basement
Safety reasons to protect you and your family
Peace in mind
Most of customers we experience wait until they are selling their home to install an egress window which holds up the closing process on both ends of the buyer/seller. Once installed every customer realizes the benefits and wishes they had installed one sooner. Its usually a 2-5 installation process that is done 90% from the exterior of your home limiting any distraction to your life and home.
Benefits of adding an egress window:
Added safety as a fire escape in the time of need
Better ventilation for your basement
More added light
Better access for larger items to enter your basement from outside
Helps with mold and mildew issues every basement experiences
When buying/selling your home like mentioned before, brings up last minute violations that brings nothing but last minute aggravation. Pre planning your egress window project will eliminate this and save you money without paying for extra violation costs that you local building department may require.
What to expect when installing a window in violation:
Closing process held up
Have to issue a building permit
Some building departments require engineered plans drawn up for basement floor plan
Extra permit fees
Electrical inspection
Proof of insurance from your contractor
Approval from the board for work to comence in some condo complexes
Egress windows have national code requirements that must be met before and during the installation. Choosing a good contractor that is familiar with these codes is key for an easy and painless installation process. The right equipment is necessary to do the project with the proper machines that will not ruin your property during the process.
Window well must be 9 square feet inside dimensions
Window well must not exceed 44" without adding a ladder
Window must have 22" net clearing
WMB Constructionhas been performing egress window installations for years in the Hudson Valley NY region. Contact today to set up your free estimate and we will come out and evaluate and price your project.
Check out our videos on some of out finished products
Adding an egress window to your home is an excellent idea, opening up your basement to fresh air and light and most importantly the safety of your family and your pets. Across the country it has become a national code and all homes must pass inspection and have an egress window if your basement is finished.
Requirements for an egress window:
Window must be 5.7 square feet
Window must have a clear opening of 20"
Window must be at least 24" in height
Window well must be 9 square feet interior dimensions
Sill height of window from inside floor of basement must not exceed 44"
Height inside window well must not exceed 44"
If inside/outside heights exceed 44", a ladder must be installed
Window must be operatable by hand with no tools
Bars on the outside of window will not be acceptable
Garage doors are not an acceptable exit
What are the benefits of adding an egress window?:
First off, the safety of your family and loved ones
Better ventilation because we all know basements can be stuffy and moist
Added natural light which makes for a better and more heathly atmosphere
If your basement is't finished this is a great way go get material in
Added value to your home
Here at WMBCONSTRUCTION we specialize in installing egress windows and all windows around the beautiful Hudson Valley in Monroe, NY. We know what your home means to you and mainly the safety of your family. These codes were put in play for a reason and even in our home town of Orange County, NY we have seen how they have helped save lives during a fire and at the same time improve everyday live when there is no tragedy.
Hear in the Northeast we can experience some pretty brutal snowstorms which can be crippling to our homes and our families. Not being able to leave your home for work, food or even medical emergencies can be an uneasy feeling, especially for the elderly. Choosing a reliable snowplow contractor is key and will leave you with peace in mind when the storms hit.
WMB Construction will be with you throughout the duration of the storm, big or small. When large storms hit it may be required that your property be plowed more than once or maybe even numerous time to keep up with the weight of the snowfall. Some storms may also call for heavy machinery to be brought in to move heavy snow piles or snowfalls that our plow trucks can't handle. WMB Construction has machinery to handle this service too!
Located in New York, WMB Construction takes great pride in building great decks for our customers. In our area here in the Hudson Valley we can easily enjoy three seasons out of our decks. Outdoor living has become extremely popular due to the fact that most of us aren't taking vacations and using the money to create a backyard oasis. With the added value and the comfort of relaxing in your own home you will easily start to see the benefits.
Five key reasons to add a composte deck to your home:
Maintanance free
Added value to home
Added entertaining area
Great closed in area for the little ones
Create great memories year after year with family and friends
Seen here is a deck WMB CONSTRUCTION built in beautiful Monroe, NY 10950. The floor is Timbertech composite twin finish Pacific Walnut flooring. The flooring has been installed using hidden fastners for a nice clean look with no exposed screw heads. Railings are a severe weather rated composite white.Staircase is a fully covered composite with no exposed lumber. Hidden behind is five custom stringers constructed of treated lumber.
A bathroom remodel is always exciting and something to look forward to. Removing all of that mold and mildew to start with!WMB Construction has been tranforming customers bathroom dreams into reality for years in beautiful Orange County, NY.
Before
After
Most bathroom remodels are performed within two weeks from start to finish. We try to minimize any inconvenience to your regular schedule while construction is performed.
What to expect during your bathroom remodel:
First day all contents are removed from bathroom down to original studs.
Second day all plumbing and electrical is performed. New tub installed.
Third day all sheetrock and cement board installed.
By the fourth day we are usually ready to start installing your ceramic tiles on walls and floor. Tile installation can take 1-4 days depending on amount of tile and precision cuts to be made.
After tile has been installed and glued has dried we apply latex fortified grout to all seams of tile.
Paint all walls and ceiling.
Install all new plumbing and electrical fixtures.
Drop clothes are layed down everyday and removed at the end of everyday.
At the end of project all tools, material and garbage is removed off premises.
How we enhanced and protected this bathroom:
First we removed all over the toxic mold and mildew from bathroom.
Installed a new high quality "Americast" tub in place of the old tub.
Replaced all corroded supply valves and tub plumbing.
Installed waterproof cement board on walls of tub area and on floors for superior protection.
Removed old exhaust fan and installed a new high powered and quiet one. Old fan was vented into attic creating mold and mildew to grow. We vented exhaust through the roof.
Constructed in walls shelf.
Installed all new high end coppertone fixtures.
Caulked all seams and corners in tub area for superior water protection
Installed new fiberglass insulation in walls and ceiling to gain more R-value.
Removed double hung window in tub area and added an awning window.
Removed soffit over tub area for more light and ventilation.
WMB CONSTRUCTIONhas years of experience in the field to install the bathroom of your dreams with peace in mind that everything was installed correctly and finished in a timely matter so you and your family can get back to schedule. Leave the hard work to the professionals.
A bathroom remodel is most likely in the near future for many of us. The naturally moist enviroment of your bathroom will take its toll on any room over the years. WMB CONSTRUCTIONhas been professionally remodeling bathrooms for years out of Monroe in beautiful Orange County, NY
Hidden behind your ceramic tiles you may find mold, mildew and rot. When we renovated this bathroom we found that the toilet bowl flange had been leaking for years which called for major repair to the subfloor.
Tub areas always take a beating due to the fact they are always in contact with water. If you don't take care of your tub, it won't take care of you.
Problems with this tub:
This is the cheapest tub you can install, a steel tub. As you can see, the drain has completely rotted out. this wouldn't happen with a cast iron or Americast tub.
Diverter is too low. When showering water hits your body and goes behind schutching plates creating leaks over time.
Caulking maintainance has not been kept up on this tub.
New tub, cement board, plumbing and tile and the bathroom takes on a whole new smell and look.
Five Key Reasons for Bathroom Remodel:
Added value to your home
More healthy enviroment for you and your family
Upgrade your bathroom for a more modern look
Faster sale of your home. Kitchens and bathrooms make for faster sales at a higher profit.
Peace in mind that all mold and mildew has been removed
Curtain drains are essentially trenches filled with gravel covering perforated pipe acting like a gutter system to remove unwanted water away from your home. The trench is lined with filter fabric to ensure that the perforated pipe with remain free of clogs from dirt and silt over the years.
Why you might need a curtain drain:
Areas of your property where you have unwanted water pooling
Water issues in your basement(curtain drains work great in conjunction with you homes footing drains)
Remove water away from retaining walls and driveways
With any drainage project performed byWMB Construction, we always use more gravel than necessary. Gravel is natural drainage that quickly filters water to your perforated pipe and away from your home. Most drainage contractors under due this step leaving your curtain drain system practically useless.
How we install a curtain drain:
Dig a trench 18"-24" deep in the ground
Line trench with filter fabric
Install a 4" perforated pipe in ground pitched out to daylight
Staircase is a fully covered composite with no exposed lumber. Hidden behind is five custom stringers constructed of treated lumber.
