First I want to thank John Nelson for his speedy and helpful response to my last question. I have many more....

I have three small windows in my basement with window wells on the outside of the house. I don't want windows in my finished basement. I would like to just build my 2x4 walls over them. Can I do that? Is there anything special I should do to the inside or outside of the windows to prepare them for the cover up? Thanks!

 

Code probably requires a certain amount of daylight in your basement. Check with your building department, but I doubt you can cover the windows.

 

I'm curious...why don't you want the windows? Aesthetics, leaks, burglary, peeping toms?

The windows, though small, are still useful. They are an egress in case of fire. They are too small for code, but may still be functional. Mine were used a few weeks ago by my son and a friend who spent the night. They went out one of them for a late night adventure. They thought we would here the door open and shut. The one boy is as large as a good sized adult and still fit thru the window.

Let us know why and perhaps we can address those concerns to your satisfaction.

 

There are 3 windows. Only 1 of them is on a wall I plan to finish. This finished area will be a home theater where light is the enemy.

The other two windows are along a wall that will remain unfinished so they don't have to be covered. This unfinished area includes the electric furnace, water heater and access to the crawl space.

 

Does this window get a lot of sun? Is this the wall the screen will go on? If yes, then build the wall out and make the screen a "built-in" screen with shelves on either side.

I would think that at some time you'd want some natural light in the room. Shutters, drapes, or heavy bilnds will block out the light when you don't want it.

If you truly to "elimnate" it, then you can build the wall in front. Build the wall out several inches from the foundation. Remember that you can see the wall from the outside.