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You are probably really excited because you have just purchased your first new home with a basement! There were so many meetings with housing developers, real estate agents, banks, and more, but you finally got your basement home. The house you bought only came with the minimum requirements for a rough basement. You are anxious to get started designing all the rooms and putting your plans to work for your new basement. Wait, how are you going to protect your basement from water seepage and even flooding the new rooms you have worked so hard to design? You need to install egress window wells (emergency exits), so your family has an easy exit for an emergency such as flooding. Here are some thoughts that need to be considered before you roll up your sleeves and dig in. Move any obstacles away from the work area, such as utility meters, buried utility lines (phone and power), landscaping, and fencing that may be in the way of digging. Your main concerns when evaluating the work that needs to be performed are water drainage, load bearing walls, correct measurements, and how to properly install egress window wells for the safety of your family. Now that you are focusing on how to install a window well, there are more decisions to make before the digging begins. Everything you purchase or decide to install must meet or surpass code requirements. Decide whether you want to install single, double, or triple pane windows. Are you going to use wood trim with stain? Do you want aluminum or vinyl sash material? The basic rule of thumb for the size of egress windows is a clearance opening of 5.7 square feet. Your best bet for your individual situation is to check on the local building codes when you get your permit. Shop around for the best brand that meets your requirements for the job. How are you going to enclose the window well? You can select from corrugated metal wells, which resist corrosion, vinyl, landscaping timbers, or cinder block. Now that you have defined your requirements and identified where the utility lines are, you can begin digging! You use a small backhoe or dig by hand. The next steps are an overview of the remaining steps to be accomplished. Assemble the window well that you have chosen and backfill with dirt. The basement wall needs to be cut and removed. You will have to center the window, plumb, and level. Then insulate and trim the window to fit. Remember all those decisions you had to make about size, color, measurements, and materials? Why not alleviate some of the questions easily by shopping for egress window wells at Rockwellinc.com? Their products will remove some of the hassles of shopping for window wells, and they are made safely, having been designed with the egress code in mind. You won't have to worry about your family getting out of the house safely. Their web site provides clear easy installation instructions. You have a great selection of metal grates or polycarbonate covers to choose from. Metal grates prevent family member from accidentally falling into a window well, and they let in fresh air and light simultaneously. You can take advantage of polycarbonate covers, which prevent debris from building up in the well and allow natural sunlight to filter into your basement. Best of all you should read about the Rockwell 5-year limited warranty. It is simple to find the distributors that are nearest to you. When you are on the Rockwell web site, click on Distributors and Find a Distributor. It is always good to know that when you start a project, professionals can guide you along the way. Simplify your project by installing egress window wells.
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