BasementWindowsandWater
Firstoff,itisimportantthatbasementwindowskeepwaterout. Beingthatbasementsarebelowground,theyarealwayssusceptibleto flooding.Aleakywindowwillresultinsomedegreeofflooding.So, basementwindowsmustremainingoodrepairandsealtightlywhen closed.Also,thegroundnearthewindowmusthaveproperdrainageand notfunnelwatertothewindow.Externalattachmentscanbepurchased, suchasafoottallshieldaroundthebasementwindow,keepingwater anddebrisaway.
BasementWindowsandSafety
Anotherthingtokeepoutisburglars,becauseanywindowatground levelisaninvitingtarget.Asimpleglasswindowcaneasilybe brokenwitharockorboot.So,reinforcingbasementwindowsor buildingthemwithglassbricksisacommonsolution.Othersolutions involvewindowcoveringsoruseofacrossbrace.Itisalso recommendedthatthebasementbelockedfromtheinside,soburglars cannotenterthemainresidencefromthebasement.
BasementWindowsandCold
Finally,incolderclimates,basementwindowsareacommonlocation forcoldairtoleakintoahome.Topreventhigherheatingbills,it isimportantthatthewindowssealshaveadditionalformsof insulationtoholdinheat.
BasementWindowRequirements
TheInternationalResidentialCodestatesthatwindowsmustbe24"W X20"Htoallowoccupantstoescapeincaseoffire,orfor firefighterstoenterifneeded.Differentmunicipalitiesmayhave otherrequirements,butingeneral,atleastonewindowisrequiredin abasement.Ifabasementismeantforstorage,thenumberofwindows isnotimportant,butifabasementisforlivingspace,itis generallyadvisedtohaveasmanywindowsaspossibletoallowinmore light.Overall,abasementwindowbringsmoreconcernsthansimply beingawindow.However,onceaddressed,theypresentnomoretrouble toahomeownerthananyotherwindow.
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