Many homeowners are looking for ways to improve their living space and have found that the basement is a great place to do just that.
The problem with some basements is that when you finish them off you still feel like you are in a dark and dank basement. Natural light makes a living space feel warm. Many full in ground basements don’t have a lot of natural light. Windows seem to make a basement feel like any other part of the house.
One way to bring natural light into a basement is by adding a window or 2. This can be done by digging up the dirt on the outside of the basement and holding the dirt back with an egress window well. Once the dirt is held back away from the house, the window can be added by cutting a hole in a foundation wall. The most common size is a 4′ wide by 4′ tall hole, but the size is only limited by your imagination. It is entirely possible to add a series of windows to an entire side of a home.
Here are some common types of wells that can hold the dirt back:
These wells are designed to be used when adding a typical 4′ x 4′ window. If you want to add a series of windows, you may have to opt to build a landscaped retaining wall to hold back the dirt.
Another benefit, besides letting in natural light, is that these windows can save your life in case of a fire. Many homes built prior to 2003 with a full in ground basement don’t have a window big enough to allow a person to escape in case of a fire. Most codes today require that all basements with living space to have a window that meets the egress codes.
Gordon Energy & Drainage, located in the Kansas City area, has been installing egress window wells since 2003. They have been in business since 1972, but decided to add them to their product lines when the codes changed in new home construction. They have installed over 5,000 egress window wells on new & existing homes since 2003.
You can also do it yourself. It is a hard, dirty job but if you got 2-3 days and a good back, you can get the job done. Here is a summary of things you may have to do.
1. Dig out the dirt for the well
2. Cut the foundation wall
3. Install a window that meets egress codes (usually 5.7 square feet + of open space)
4. Install an egress well, or other means of holding back the dirt. (3′ away from home)
5. Make sure the egress well can drain.
6. Put gravel around the bottom.
7. Install a ladder if the well is more than 44″ high.
8. Backfill the dirt back around the well, tamp it in.
9. Haul away the excess dirt as you will have plenty!
10. Paint the trim around the window, clean up, etc…..
Gordon Energy & Drainage charges between $ 3,500 and $ 7,000 for a complete egress window well system installation. The prices can vary based on the height of the well needed, the type of well chosen, and various job site conditions. Most of their installations are in Overland Park, Leawood, Olathe, Liberty, Lee’s Summit, Blue Springs, Lenexa, and Kansas City.
What will you get for your investment? The added light let in by the new, deep window can eliminate the dark and dank atmosphere so common to earlier basement finishes. The sensory difference can be remarkable. Light can be a crucial part of the design.
A primary benefit of a deep window is EGRESS!!! An easily accessible opening which you can escape or a firefighter can enter in the event of a basement fire. Basement fires are common, so this is really more than a code issue.
If you are considering a basement renovation as a way to expand your living space, you should be prepared to have to comply with the building codes, especially if you are adding a bedroom. Contact your city to find out the exact code requirements.
Adding an egress window to your basement is a large investment, with large returns.
We also backfill, including gravel for improved drainage, and we haul away all of the excess dirt, and finish with the egress ladder installation, with egress window well covers also available.
