Basement Windows - Let in Sunlight and Fresh Air
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Summary: Have you ever visited a basement with a few or no windows? The basements of the houses are generally dark and gloomy places to spend a long time here.
The windows form an integral part of the basements allowing sufficient natural lighting and also act as ventilators too let out the stale air present.
It is important to plan sufficient number of windows while you are designing the layout of your house, particularly if you are planning to make a basement room in future.
Basement Window Safety
The windows of your basement act as emergency exits in crucial times like fire or other natural disasters which may force you to escape through the basement of the house. It is also important that the basement windows be adequately sized so as to allow external help to enter your house and are also designed keeping in mind the federal, state, and local building codes
Installation of Basement Windows
Refitting a basement window into an already present window-frame is a simple work. Complete installation of a new window might require a lot of added work because of the concrete work, like cutting of the walls to fix the window frames,but it is a simple work which the house owner can do on his own. The required equipment for this work, like the cutting saw, is easily available for rent at the concerned dealers.
High technology basement windows
In the past, the basement windows were of inferior quality and were prone to water and air leakages. However, in the present times, with the technology advances, a number of superior quality windows have been designed. These are made of Low-E glass and superb sealants are applied on them to restrict air or water leakages. Even then it should be made sure during the installation off the windows that air and water leakages around the window frames are not present and proper insulation and caulking were applied around the window frame.
Suggested soil grade around the basement windows
During the installation of the window frames in your basement, it is important to ensure that the land layout does not allow gathering of water around the window frames. To prevent this from happening, you can use back filed soil around the basement foundation to redirect the approaching water. Also make sure that this soil is sanded and graveled to ensure proper redirection of water towards the drainage system.
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