Egress windows can truly maximize the square footage of your home, along with many other benefits. The International Residential Code requires egress windows in every habitable space in a home, including the basement. That means if you finish your basement and turn it into a bedroom or separate living space, according to the IRC, you must add an egress window. In today’s real estate market, it’s important to invest expecting a return. One of the most efficient investments with an incremental return on investment is the installation of egress windows. One may wonder… just what is an egress window and why would I need one?
An egress window looks like a regular large window in the basement of a home that fully opens to allow inhabitants to escape in the event of an emergency, such as a house fire. In order for a bedroom to legally be classified as an actual bedroom, an egress window must be installed. So with the addition of an egress window, your home’s value can increase by $30 – 75K immediately, due to the immediate addition of a bedroom.
What are the IRC Requirements for an Egress Window
To meet IRC standards, every egress window needs to fulfill some basic requirements, including:
- A minimum required free space opening when the window is wide open is 5.7 sq. ft. (0.5 m2). It is the size most people can pass through.
- The minimum opening width needs to be at least 20 to 24 inches (51 – 61 cm).
- The minimum opening height needs to be at least 24 to 34 inches (61 – 86 cm).
- The maximum height of the sill above the floor needs to be within 44 inches (1.1 m). If the bottom of the opening is lower, it is allowed that the opening of the window is only 5 sq. ft. (0.46 m2).
PolyMagic’s egress windows can be added to a new construction build or an existing home, revitalizing the look and feel in a basement. Benefits include:
– Safety Feature: Easy Emergency Exit
– Increased Natural Light in a Basement
– Immediate Return on Investment
– Additional Livable Square Footage (Adding an Office or Bedroom)
– Better Ventilation
– 1 Day Installation Process; Immediate Value
Today, more than ever, households are finishing their basements to gain square footage and usable space. In this housing market, all square footage matters to receive top dollar on your home. PierMagic is equipped to meet the latest home safety and building code standards for new and existing homes. Get started today on your egress window installation!
Egress window installation can give you a huge amount of value. Depending on your geographical area, the average cost price for a two-bedroom home is around $200,000 on average. An average cost for a three-bedroom home is over $300,000. So, for the price of an egress window, you are looking at adding over $100,000 to your home value.
If you’re considering adding an egress window, your investment is solid. The team at PolyMagic serves the Kansas City and surrounding areas and is able to install the egress window in one day. In, out, and on your way to a greater ROI! Give us a call for pricing.