I have received a lot of e-mails and phone calls lately asking how late I can install Egress Windows so I decided to write this blog post on the subject. I can install Egress Windows all season long. There are several reasons why this is not as difficult as you might think. First, the ground near your foundation does not usually freeze to the extent that it does every where else, do to the heat escaping from your home. Secondly, professionals that have been in the business for any length of time have invested in tools to perform such tasks. That is why I chose to use a demolition hammer with a spade bit.
It is certainly not the easiest or the quickest method, though I do believe it is the best. I generally only have to break through a foot of frost before I can continue to dig by hand or with a mini backhoe.
People are also often concerned about how long it takes to install an Egress window. It most cases I have the well dug, and the window installed in a day. I generally takes 30 minutes once I cut out the hole from the foundation for the window till the new window is installed. During this time I have the inside of the room sealed off to prevent as much cold air from entering as possible. As long as you hire a professional, installing an Egress Window in the winter is no different than any other time of year. So don’t wait till spring to finish your basement or add that extra bedroom, you can enjoy the safety and natural light an Egress Window provides today.
John
With something as important as working on a foundation, having a knowledgeable professional doing the work is worth every penny. Mistakes of any kind can end up costing much more than paying someone with tools and talent to do the job right.
We just finished off our basement and thought we would have to wait till spring to make it a legal bedroom. Good to know I can finish whenever I’m ready.
Rick