The Little Handy Dandy Guide To Choosing Perfect Basement Windows For Your Calgary Home

Egress windows are designed specifically as an escape route for anyone trapped below ground level during an emergency. It is believed that the required size of an egress window is a minimum opening of 15 inches in width and height and offers an opening of 3.77 square feet. Of course, they can be made to suit much larger openings.

Houses built over the previous decades, as we’ve already mentioned, had no specific regulations in place to ensure homes with basements had egress windows installed. However, newly designed homes tend to have egress windows fitted as standard. And any construction firm refurbishing and converting the basement space into a living area would have to install egress windows as a safety feature.

Of course, not all basements are used as living spaces or entertainment areas and used only as a storage place, as already mentioned. If you’re content with limited lighting or artificial lighting, then there are no laws in place that state you must have egress windows installed.

When it comes to installing egress windows, it’s important you choose the right window that’s the right size and of good enough quality. Like we said before, basements can be vulnerable to damage caused by dampness as they are built below ground level. The installed windows must be completely watertight to prevent any unnecessary moisture from entering the building via the window opening.

Once upon a time, before architects and construction workers fully understood the damages and causes of dampness, windows and doors were often made out of wood. Wood is a cheap and sturdy product, one that the construction has an abundance of. However, it soon came to attention that, over time, wood will begin to rot and decay; therefore, homes were replacing old rotting wooden windows and door frames with UPVC and vinyl plastic alternatives. And the same thing applies to the egress windows of the basement.

You may want to consider contacting a professional Calgary windows replacement company to get the job done right. Besides Egress windows, Royal View Windows and Doors has many vinyl windows available to choose from.

Ideally, you’d want plastic window frames installing to prevent any form of rotting or decay.

Metallic frames are always an option; however, over time, they can become susceptible to rusting. Many wooden and metal window frames come treated with varnishing and oils to prevent decaying and rusting and ultimately prolong the lifespan, but plastic requires little maintenance and tends to be a cheaper option.

With basement windows comes uncertainty as to whether or not they should be used like other windows of the house. By that, we mean homeowners are often reluctant to open their windows below ground level through fear or letting in damp and wet weather. But, egress windows are perfectly fine to use as any other house window to improve air circulation or release excessive heat from the room.