Finishing your home’s basement is an exciting project, whether you’re turning it into an extra bedroom, a playroom, or a home office. If you’re finishing your basement, you may need to add an egress window. These are larger windows designed to give you a safe exit route during an emergency. But that’s not the only reason why many homeowners in Ohio are installing them.
In this blog, we’ll go over all the reasons why egress windows are a must-have feature for your basement bedrooms. Let’s start with the most important and obvious reason:
Safety Feature
Egress Windows Are an Emergency Exit
Safety is the most important reason to install egress windows in your basement bedrooms. Your basement can quickly become a trap if your home has a fire or a flood. Egress windows give you a reliable emergency exit.
Most older basements don’t have egress windows. They have smaller windows that are too high to reach and too narrow to crawl through. Egress windows are larger and installed lower than traditional basement windows. They open out into your home’s window wells, and from there, you can use your well’s steps or a built-in ladder to complete your escape.
Egress windows also give first responders a way to get into your basement quickly. If you have a fire or a flood, normal basement windows are too small for firefighters to enter, especially with all the gear they wear. Firefighters can rescue you from your basement bedroom much faster if you have an egress window.
Natural Light
Egress Windows Turn Dreary Basements Into Well-Lit Bedrooms
Another benefit of basement egress windows is natural light. Basements without large windows can be dark and dreary. When you install egress windows, sunlight flows though, making your basement feel like any other room in your house. Being able to look outside can also make your basement bedroom seem larger and less stuffy.
Having more natural light in your basement bedroom can also support your health. Sunlight regulates many of our body’s systems, including our circadian rhythms. A basement bedroom that doesn’t let any natural light in can throw your body’s rhythm off, making it harder to sleep or wake up in the morning. Natural light makes your space brighter and can improve your overall health.
One more benefit related to natural light is energy savings. With all the natural light that egress windows let in, you won’t need to use as many electric lights in your basement bedroom during the day. Those small savings add up over time.
Airflow
Egress Windows Can Improve Your Basement’s Ventilation
Basement bedrooms can feel stuffy because they don’t get much airflow. But with the ventilation egress windows provide, your basement will be able to breathe. Egress windows open wide, unlike traditional basement windows that only open an inch or two. We install multiple styles, including horizontal sliders and crank-out casement windows.
An egress window can improve your basement’s air quality by letting fresh air in and stale air out. Opening your basement’s egress windows helps flush out dust, pet dander, and other allergens that settle in stagnant air. Air quality is especially important in a basement bedroom, since whoever is sleeping there will be breathing that air all night.
Egress windows also give you more control over your basement’s humidity. Your basement naturally traps moisure, and when that moisture has nowhere to go, it condenses on cool surfaces and can lead to mold growth. Opening your egress windows lets that trapped humidity out, making your basement more comfortable.
Building Code Compliance
Ohio’s Basement Window Requirements
Egress windows aren’t just a nice safety feature. They’re also a legal requirement for any basement bedroom built or remodeled under modern building codes. The Ohio Residential Code says that all basement bedrooms must have at least one egress window or door that opens directly to the outside. You can read more about Ohio building codes on our Egress Building Codes page.
We know what you’re thinking—so why do so many Ohio basements not have egress windows? It all comes down to when the home was built. Many older homes were built before the window requirements went into place. Basements before then were mainly designed for storage and laundry. But now, more and more homeowners are finishing their basements and using them as bedrooms.
So what does this mean for you as a homeowner? Well, if your basement isn’t finished and you don’t use it as a living area, you don’t need to worry about the egress window requirement. But if you’re planning on finishing your basement and turning it into a bedroom or living area, you’ll want to add an egress window to make sure your home is safe and compliant.
Home Value
Staying Compliant Improves Resale Value
Egress windows are an attractive feature that improves the look and feel of your basement. They make your basement feel more like a living area by adding natural light and ventilation. And as we mentioned before, you can choose from multiple styles to match the look and feel of your space. We offer traditional egress windows, horizontal sliders, and crank-out casement windows.
Another reason why egress windows can improve your home’s resale value is that they turn your finished basement into a legal bedroom. Appraisers and real estate agents can only count bedrooms that meet Ohio’s building code requirements when they appraise and market your home. Having more legal bedrooms can help your home appraise higher and attract more buyers.
Contact Jackson Egress Windows Today
Emergency Exit Windows, Window Wells & Well Covers in Columbus Ohio
Adding an egress window to your basement is one of the smartest upgrades you can make. It’s an addition that can make your family safer and more comfortable. Egress windows also keep your home compliant with Ohio’s building codes.
Looking for an egress window contractor in Columbus? At Jackson Egress Windows, we handle everything from egress window installations to foundation repairs and waterproofing services. We make sure your windows are watertight and compliant with all local building codes.
Call us today to schedule a consultation and get a free estimate on your next project.