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 →

Fire Prevention Safety Week: Prevent Kitchen Fires TAGS: basement egress windows | Egress windows | emergency escape | means of egress | safe basement exit

This week is national Fire Prevention Safety Week – and this year they’re striking out against the leading cause of fires at home. “More fires start in the kitchen than in any other part of the home,” warn the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), during their Fire Prevention Safety Week. “Cooking is the leading cause home fires and home fire injuries. Between 2007 and 2011, U.S. Fire Departments responded to an estimated annual average of 156,600 cooking-related fires – resulting in 400 civilian deaths, 5,080 civilian injuries and $853 million in direct damage.” Kitchen fires hit particularly close to home …Continue reading →

The Home Gym: Making the Most of Your Basement Space TAGS: basement | basement egress windows | basement remodel ideas | building codes | finishing a basement | means of egress | Refinishing your basement

One popular way to maximize the space of a finished basement is to convert it into a home gym. While the initial outlay can be expensive, it’s one of the few investments that literally “pays for itself” in the gym dues you save every month – not to mention your improved health! Home exercise equipment tends not to get a lot of use. Some people even joke “it’s the most expensive clothesline you’ll ever have!” This is largely because home exercise equipment is large, bulky and needs a lot of room to use it effectively. Which is where a basement …Continue reading →

The Home Office: Making the Most of your Basement Space TAGS: Adding egress windows | basement | basement egress windows | basement remodel ideas | Egress windows | means of egress

While Yahoo! CEO Marissa Mayer recently made waves by banning working from home, flexible hours and work-from-home initiatives are becoming significantly more common across America. As a result, more and more homeowners are looking to find space in their home for an office. The basement is a logical choice. Working from home isn’t easy. Even if you don’t have kids or pets to contend with, it’s often difficult to get into the “work” headspace when you have the opportunity to send your emails and work on your presentations without even clambering out of bed. That’s why people like Yahoo!’s CEO …Continue reading →

Finish a Basement Apartment Safely with Egress Window Wells TAGS: basement | basement egress windows | Basement Windows | Egress windows | emergeny escape | finishing a basement | means of egress

To finish a basement apartment safely includes having a “means of egress” – a building code requirement that calls for an easy escape in the event of an emergency. But don’t look at your window wells as an obligation – think of the opportunities they could offer instead. Egress window wells are not just a building code requirement – they offer a number of additional benefits that can help make a basement apartment much more enjoyable. When you’re planning to install your basement window wells, consider the advantages of the different rooms you could install them in: Kitchen: There are …Continue reading →

Meeting Egress Requirements with a Basement Rental Apartment: Making the Most of your Space TAGS: Adding egress windows | basement egress windows | building codes | Egress windows | emergeny escape | means of egress | safe basement exit

Over the course of the next few blog posts, we’ll be examining some of the best ways to expand your home and make use of your available basement space. In this post we will address the right way to meet egress requirements for a finished basement turned rental apartment. America is in the midst of a crisis right now – even a couple of years after the recession supposedly ended. The problem is that millions of American homeowners have been hit hard by the housing crash and now owe more on their homes than their properties are actually worth. One …Continue reading →

Don’t Move – Expand! TAGS: Adding egress windows | basement remodel ideas | Egress windows | finishing a basement | means of egress

Finishing a basement can be a great alternative to buying a bigger house. Just don’t forget the egress windows! According to economists, the recession is over – but it doesn’t feel that way to millions of American homeowners. In fact, in some parts of the country house prices are the lowest they’ve been for a half century – in Detroit, for example, the average house price has dropped to just $44,000! And with the housing market still deeply depressed, many homeowners with growing families are struggling. “We had our third kid last June,” explained Long Island homeowner Janine, “and we’re …Continue reading →

The Station Nightclub Fire Highlights the Importance of Safe Means of Egress TAGS: building codes | emergeny escape | means of egress | safe basement exit

Remembering a tragedy also reminds us of the importance of fire safety. This week marked the 10th anniversary of The Station nightclub fire – a horrific blaze that claimed the lives of 100 people in February of 2003. The fire – caused by on-stage pyrotechnics set up by rock band Great White – engulfed the small Rhode Island nightclub in seconds; trapping hundreds in the blazing building. It’s a chilling reminder of the importance of a “means of egress” in any enclosed space. Marking the occasion is the official launch of The Station Documentary – a web series created by …Continue reading →

Basement Egress Window Code Saves Lives – But It Almost Didn’t Happen TAGS: basement egress windows | building codes | Egress windows | means of egress

Basement egress window code saves many lives each and every year – but there were many who tried to prevent a means of egress being part of the building requirements. In 2000, the International Residential Code (IRC) was changed to require all basement dwellings to have a means of egress; in case of fire or other emergency. That inspired politicians to move on similar legal requirements in the United States – but contrary to what you might expect, it wasn’t easy to get them passed. You might wonder why people would resist adding a life-saving measure to the national building …Continue reading →

Casement Windows for Basement Egress: Cheap Fix or Bad Idea? TAGS: Adding egress windows | building codes | Egress windows | means of egress | safe basement exit

Not all basement windows are created equal. Make sure yours meet code before you waste time and money having to reinstall them. Having to get a finished basement up to code is a smart move; and quickly pays for itself in terms of house value and rental potential. However, the initial outlay often inspires homeowners to try and cut corners when adding a means of egress – and that can lead to costly problems in the future. One of the most common “cheap fix” solutions homeowners attempt is to install regular casement windows as a means of egress. Sadly, it’s …Continue reading →