This was a nice rambler home in north west Washington DC where the client was finishing his basement and wanted to add a legal bedroom and more light and ventilation to the space. He decided to put a 30x60 WITAL European tilt and turn window with a brilliant white Boman Kemp window well in the bedroom. The 30x60 is a custom favorite size window because of the ease of getting out of it especially for elderly and children. The 60 inch length of the window drops the window down into a more comfortable range off the floor to get out of ( between 24-36 inches off the basement floor). The code maximum height off the floor is 44 inches to the sill which is actually still pretty high and makes for a more difficult escape. In a soon to be kitchenette area we put a 31x41 WITAL European tilt and turn and a white Boman Kemp well. We decided to use the 31x41 size because the customer plans to put a kitchen sink and counter underneath of it so it couldn’t be any lower. The 31x41 still meets egress code criteria as well, although it wasn’t necessary in the kitchen.

We also added sump pumps in each window well because the home was old and the drain tile that was there had failed and was completely packed with silt, And thus didn’t drain anymore. The pump system sits in each well and pumps water out before it rises past the top of the footing where it becomes a threat to the basement and foundation.

The customer was very pleased with the finished product. He really enjoys the added natural light and ventilation to the space. Also his mind is at ease knowing that the basement is now safe with the added 2 fire escapes that the new egress window systems provide.

If your basement has no exit aside from the stairs going to the first level, and are interested in installing new egress windows to make the space first and foremost SAFE, and secondly make it more comfortable and homey by adding more light and airflow, please give us a call for a quick and painless free estimate.

240-388-8275

Jordan Jones - JDS Home Improvement LLC