Doors and Windows - egress window question
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furniture_guy
01-11-07, 09:02 PM
I would like to know the level of difficulty of installing an egress window. The egress will take the place of an existing smaller window. My foundation is concrete block.
I have very little experience installing windows but I have a carpentry background and am an experienced DIY'er in other areas.
So is this a project for a diy'er or should a call a pro? It is my understanding that this would be a rather expensive project to have professionally done and I love to save money!
Are there any good reference books on this subject?
Thanks!
I have very little experience installing windows but I have a carpentry background and am an experienced DIY'er in other areas.
So is this a project for a diy'er or should a call a pro? It is my understanding that this would be a rather expensive project to have professionally done and I love to save money!
Are there any good reference books on this subject?
Thanks!
XSleeper
01-12-07, 05:56 AM
It might be a project for you if you're brave.
Cement block walls are not all created equal- some have structural horizontal reinforcement which makes removing blocks difficult and also makes them difficult to patch.
However, concrete saws are available which you could rent- the problem for a DIY'er would be being careful enough and sawing straight enough to leave yourself the exact size rough opening that you need.
If your window is, for example, 28x48 you'd want a R.O. in the cement that is not less than 3 1/2" larger in each direction. This would allow for a 1 1/2" thick woodbuck on each side of the masonry opening (the perimeter of the opening you cut out will get lined with pressure treated wood) plus a small amount for wiggle room around the window... a gap around the window which is where you would shim and insulate.
Usually you don't get into big problems with enlarging an existing opening, because most basement windows are already 32" wide- you will just be cutting straight down from there, provided you stick with a window that is about 28 wide which still meets egress requirements.
Cement block walls are not all created equal- some have structural horizontal reinforcement which makes removing blocks difficult and also makes them difficult to patch.
However, concrete saws are available which you could rent- the problem for a DIY'er would be being careful enough and sawing straight enough to leave yourself the exact size rough opening that you need.
If your window is, for example, 28x48 you'd want a R.O. in the cement that is not less than 3 1/2" larger in each direction. This would allow for a 1 1/2" thick woodbuck on each side of the masonry opening (the perimeter of the opening you cut out will get lined with pressure treated wood) plus a small amount for wiggle room around the window... a gap around the window which is where you would shim and insulate.
Usually you don't get into big problems with enlarging an existing opening, because most basement windows are already 32" wide- you will just be cutting straight down from there, provided you stick with a window that is about 28 wide which still meets egress requirements.