Enlarging Window vs Adding Bilco Door?
#1
07-24-04, 04:22 PM
Enlarging Window vs Adding Bilco Door?
Hi All --
We're planning to finish our basement. Our local building codes mandate that we have a 5.7 sq ft window for emergency use; our one and only basement window is smaller than this. We are faced with choosing between enlarging the existing window (and digging a fairly deep window well to accomodate the enlargement) vs. adding a Bilco-style basement door. Our basement walls are poured concrete, and the house is seven years old.
We can think of pros and cons for each option. Aside from the obvious consideration of cost, we'd be grateful for any advice or experiences with either option to help us choose.
Thanks!
Scot & Jen
We're planning to finish our basement. Our local building codes mandate that we have a 5.7 sq ft window for emergency use; our one and only basement window is smaller than this. We are faced with choosing between enlarging the existing window (and digging a fairly deep window well to accomodate the enlargement) vs. adding a Bilco-style basement door. Our basement walls are poured concrete, and the house is seven years old.
We can think of pros and cons for each option. Aside from the obvious consideration of cost, we'd be grateful for any advice or experiences with either option to help us choose.
Thanks!
Scot & Jen
#2
08-02-04, 09:52 AM
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Seems to me, I'd rather have the door, if it's in the budget, And I'd do it straight down rather than parallel to the foundation. Why? Because I just refinished my basement and I know what a nightmare it is to get material--especially drywall--down there. Same is true for furniture. Look at your stairway andwhat it will be like with finished walls and then imagine yourself lugging a sectional down there.
#3
08-02-04, 09:58 AM
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Oh, and by the way, I doubt it's really cheaper to do it where the current window is. As long as you're excavating and cutting concrete, put it in the most convenient spot vis-a-vis getting material down and the final design. If you plan a bedroom, it needs to be in that bedroom. Even if you don't plan a bedroom, you might think of resale--you can call a room a bedroom if it meets the egress requirement.
Use a door with a good sized window too, You'll want as much natural light as possible.
Use a door with a good sized window too, You'll want as much natural light as possible.
#4
08-03-04, 10:13 AM
Right in the middle of it now
I am in the middle of doing mine right now.
If I didn't get the value out of the house I wouldn't do it again. But luckily I have friends in high places. A friend from church owns an excavation company and he dug out my window well with a mini Kabota backhoe for a free lunch. The hole he dug was about 5' deep, 6' long and 5' wide. I looked into renting the equipment to cut the wall myself. Then I called my local concrete cutting outfit and they charged me $205.00 to do all the work. The guy used 3 different saws to do it with and I am very happy I went that way. They do charge extra for more cuts. I originally was quoted $180 the minimum charge for a three cut hole to enlarge the existing window, but I had him cut the "over pour" ledge on the outside to make the wall as flat as possible to accept the window well flush against the outside wall. Well worth the investment.
I bought the window well ($200.00) and the gravel to back fill ($12.00). The egress window with low e glass was only $135.00. luckily the stairs to the basement are a straight shot into the room, so that is something to consider. My nightmare is wall refininshing I wanted to just paint but it looks like I have to dry wall.
If I didn't get the value out of the house I wouldn't do it again. But luckily I have friends in high places. A friend from church owns an excavation company and he dug out my window well with a mini Kabota backhoe for a free lunch. The hole he dug was about 5' deep, 6' long and 5' wide. I looked into renting the equipment to cut the wall myself. Then I called my local concrete cutting outfit and they charged me $205.00 to do all the work. The guy used 3 different saws to do it with and I am very happy I went that way. They do charge extra for more cuts. I originally was quoted $180 the minimum charge for a three cut hole to enlarge the existing window, but I had him cut the "over pour" ledge on the outside to make the wall as flat as possible to accept the window well flush against the outside wall. Well worth the investment.
I bought the window well ($200.00) and the gravel to back fill ($12.00). The egress window with low e glass was only $135.00. luckily the stairs to the basement are a straight shot into the room, so that is something to consider. My nightmare is wall refininshing I wanted to just paint but it looks like I have to dry wall.
