How To Install An Egress Window In A Block Wall

Before you make any cuts install a temporary support by fitting some wood joists around 2 feet away from where you will be cutting.

How to install an egress window in a block wall.

Carefully position it in the hole and check how it will fit. While not as dangerous as repairing a roof or as complex as many electrical wiring projects installing an egress requires managing a lot of moving parts. It can also involve either practicing or overseeing several. Partially drive 3 in 7 6 cm deck screws into the bottom of the frame and push them into the wet concrete below.

Screw the top of the frame into the ceiling plate or joists. Drill through the openings along the wall flange and drive tapcon screws backed with washers into the holes in the block. Adding an egress basement window is essential any time you remodel your basement to make a new bedroom office or other living space. To fit an egress window into your basement you will need to cut a hole.

The egress window must open into a window well outside the foundation that must be at least 36 inches wide and provide at least 9 square feet of space when the window is open. In this article we ll show you how to cut through a concrete block wall and install an egress basement window. Learn how the professionals from standard water control install an egress window in this episode of today s home remodeler. Backfill around the well tamping the soil down in 6 to 8 in.

It s large enough to offer a safe exit from the basement in the event of fire or other emergency. Doing so makes it much easier to lift the window and position it. Level the well side to side. Put the window frame into place and secure it with nails or screws.

Hold the window in place by inserting cedar wood shims between the window frame and the inside face of the rough opening. To do this measure the size of the window you have purchased and mark out the space on the wall with duct or masking tape. Host stuart keith and mike hogen. Score the outside surface of the cinder blocks with a circular saw fitted with a masonry blade then knock the cinder blocks out of the window opening with a small sledgehammer.

When it comes to ranking the most challenging diy home improvement projects installing an egress window earns a spot near the top of the list. Use concrete screws to anchor the sides of the frame to the concrete walls. Step 2 fit the window into the rough opening. There should be at least 6 inches between the windowsill and the bottom of the window well and the well needs to be equipped with a ladder if it s more than 44 inches deep.