Finishing your basement and converting it into a living space or additional bedroom can be a huge benefit, with more space for your family to spread out. But if you’re going to convert your Grand Rapids basement into a living space, basement egress windows should be at the top of your list of things to upgrade.
What is an egress window, and what makes them so important for your new home project? The window experts at WMGB Home Improvement are here to explain.
What Is a Basement Egress Window?
An egress window is any window that fully opens to allow occupants to escape in case of a fire or other emergency. You’ll need to install an egress window in your West Michigan basement if you’re turning it into a living space, to bring it in compliance with your building codes.
But this can sometimes be difficult to do in basements that are mostly below ground level, which is why your existing basement windows may be small and narrow (or non-existent). That’s where a window well comes in handy—an area of ground is dug out around the window and a shield is installed to keep the cavity from filling back in.
The Benefits of Basement Egress Window Installation
Basement egress windows aren’t just good to have to make sure your home meets building codes—there can be many other benefits as well!
Basement Egress Windows Are Safe!
Meeting building codes and installing egress windows in your basement might often seem like red tape, but the rules exist for good reasons! Probably the most important is safety—egress windows help make sure that in case of a fire or another emergency that you and your loved ones will be able to safely exit your home. There are particular specifications that your egress must meet, but don’t worry—at WMGB, we stay up to date with all local building codes to help make your home safe for your family.
Additional Egress Window Benefits
Egress windows can also add aesthetic appeal and real money value to your house, as you’ll add square footage to your home’s living spaces. And of course, they also allow dramatically more natural sunlight into your home. If you’ve ever spent much time in a dark basement, you know what a difference natural light can make. Egress windows can help your basement feel much more like a living space, and by allowing your windows to open all the way, you can also get better airflow.
Learn More About WMGB’s Expert Egress Window Installation
At WMGB Home Improvement, we have over 30 years of experience installing windows in West Michigan homes and extensive knowledge about size requirements and minimum sizes to make sure your basement egress windows are installed correctly and are up to code. We offer many different types of egress windows, and can work with you to customize your window installation, including casement, in-swinging, or even sliding windows.
