When we first saw our 1970’s Ranch home, the first thing I knew I wanted to do was to make the windows bigger in the basement. It felt very dark and dated. I had researched how to make basement windows bigger awhile ago, I can’t remember why I did…but I knew it was possible! I asked our contractor about it and he mentioned he didn’t think the current windows would even pass code because they were too small and too high off the ground. So there were two reasons to make the basement windows larger.
When you pull a permit to do work you typically have to bring everything up to code. (Egress windows became part of the International Residential Code in 1997). When we sent our plans to the city they didn’t say we had to change the basement windows, and our windows upstairs are lower to the ground than what code is but they can be grandfathered in. (Do your research per your city on your window requirements).
Code or no code I wanted bigger windows! If you are in the same boat as me, here was the process we went through!
The basement looks so much brighter now! It is literally night and day. Love the windows very much, it was worth the price!
Before we could see if we could make the windows bigger we had to make sure the window seals were deep enough to dig down for taller windows. Thankfully when they poured our foundation they dug it down an extra two feet!
We hired a company that could make each window larger. They told us an hourly rate, they weren’t sure how long each window would take. We had two companies give us a bid they basically range from $180 to $220 per hour. It ending up taking them about 6 hours per window, equalling around $1300 to cut the window larger, then we had to buy the new windows.
We went with AMSCO Windows. The Studio Series with a vinyl frame. We did grids to match our existing windows, and I love the style! We had someone local measure and order them for us. They cost us about $600 each.
Another window satisfying before and after in our basement! Let there be light! Thinking of ideas to put in the window seal.
We did the same windows in our second floor bedrooms that we added on.
Both the girls have the best views out their windows!
The girls can’t wait for window seats! PS- these windows are tempered since we have window seats going under them.
Now tell me are larger windows worth the price to you too??
Those windows are fabulous! I totally agree that the larger windows in the basement were worth the cost. It’s all coming together so beautifully. I love watching the progress and process! Thanks for sharing!
The windows look great. Do you have screens for them as well?