April is National Safe Digging Month TAGS: Dial 811 | Dig Safe | Egress windows | Installing an Egress Window

EgressWindows.com is a big supporters of the notion of safety first.  That is why we want to create awareness of National Safe Digging Month.  April is the time of year many homeowners are venturing back out into the yard to do projects.  Before you pick up a shovel and start that project by digging, ask yourself; what is under there?  Are there power lines?  Gas lines?  Communication lines?  Water lines?  Sewer lines?  The list of potential hazards just under the surface are many. There is a free service that can help you.  A few days prior to digging simply dial 811 …Continue reading →

Basement Window Wells Saved a Book Collector’s Life TAGS: basement egress windows | basement remodel ideas | building codes | Egress windows | emergeny escape | means of egress | safe basement exit

Bruno Holmes is a rare book collector, who remembers vividly why he is passionate about fire safety in his new basement library. “Back when I was working in England,” explains Bruno Holmes, a rare book dealer for a prestigious auction house in New York City, “I was caught in a fire once that nearly claimed my life.” Born and raised in the south coast of England, Bruno’s first foray into collector’s books was running a second hand bookshop in a basement-level store in greater London. “It was an old Georgian building, accessible by steps in the front, and a little …Continue reading →

How Secure are Basement Windows? TAGS: basement egress windows | Basement Windows | Egress windows | means of egress

Adding a means of egress to your basement is required by national building code – but do they make your home more vulnerable? Sadly, criminals are opportunistic. Whether it’s an unlatched window, an oversized doggy door or a spare key hidden under a mat, enterprising thieves are always finding ways to bypass home security and rob homeowners. Which is one concern many have about adding a basement window to their home. After all, a basement window is at ground level – perfect for thieves to access – and most are hidden in the backyard, or in a basement window well, …Continue reading →

If you can’t stand the heat, can you get out of the kitchen? TAGS: Adding egress windows | basement | Egress windows | emergeny escape | means of egress | safe basement exit

I thought it would be a good idea to look at one of the most important reasons why a basement window well is important – kitchen fires. Basement apartments are a great option for homeowners looking to bring in a little extra money, and for renters looking for an affordable and well-located place to live. There are drawbacks that need to be addressed, though – and one of them is safety. Adding a fully functional kitchen into a basement apartment presents the risk (fortunately a small one) of a fire breaking out down there. And if that happens, how will …Continue reading →