Covering egress window


  #1  
Old 04-02-19, 11:31 PM
M
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 5
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes on 0 Posts
Covering egress window

So I have a total of 4 regress windows in my unfinished basement. Im currently working on finishing a small part of it for an office - the rest will remain unfinished. One of the regress windows would be in the office. Since Im not a big fan of windows and dont care about natural light or resell value I would like to simply insulate it and cover it up with drywall so it would look like there was one continues wall. Since I have 3 more regress windows in my basement (unfinished part) that are only one doorway away would this still satisify code? If I ever finished the rest of the basement I would leave those accessible.

This is in Ontario
 
  #2  
Old 04-03-19, 12:18 AM
PJmax's Avatar
Group Moderator
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Jersey
Posts: 63,837
Received 3,748 Upvotes on 3,361 Posts
Welcome to the forums.

It's egress windows.
I don't see a code issue but what happens if the window breaks.
How will you fix it if you sheetrock over it ?
 
  #3  
Old 04-03-19, 05:30 AM
Tolyn Ironhand's Avatar
Group Moderator
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: United States
Posts: 14,153
Received 811 Upvotes on 683 Posts
If you are going to cover it up I would recommend doing it right and remove the window and fill in the opening.
 
  #4  
Old 04-03-19, 05:44 AM
XSleeper's Avatar
Group Moderator
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 26,824
Received 1,839 Upvotes on 1,654 Posts
You call it an office but if and when you ever sell the house and it would be considered a bedroom, you might not want to remove the window completely. No problem with covering it temporarily.
 
  #5  
Old 04-03-19, 05:48 AM
B
Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: New England
Posts: 9,460
Received 47 Upvotes on 43 Posts
Rare that a basement would have 4 egress windows so are you talking about regular basement windows? What size are they?

Usually egress windows are only installed when required thus if there was a requirement for them you may not be allowed to cover or remove them.

Bud
 
  #6  
Old 04-27-19, 02:40 PM
M
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 5
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes on 0 Posts
Sorry for the late reply guys - I had to put my project aside for bit due to work.

Maybe I misunderstood what an egress window is but I have attached pictures to show you guys what I mean.
I'm also planing on having a deck build and the contractor said it wouldn't be against code to have those windows covered. (not sure of course if I should trust his answer) So those windows would be useless anyway.

I still have one window in the basement on the other side which I will leave.

Name:  e1.JPG
Views: 225
Size:  82.9 KB

Name:  e2.JPG
Views: 203
Size:  51.4 KB

Name:  e3.JPG
Views: 215
Size:  58.6 KB

Name:  e4.JPG
Views: 175
Size:  45.5 KB

Name:  e5.JPG
Views: 206
Size:  101.0 KB
 

Last edited by PJmax; 04-27-19 at 02:52 PM. Reason: imported/resized pictures
  #7  
Old 04-27-19, 03:01 PM
PJmax's Avatar
Group Moderator
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Jersey
Posts: 63,837
Received 3,748 Upvotes on 3,361 Posts
Just curious..... how do you know those are egress windows
They usually need to be easy to get to, easy to remove, and be large enough for a person to fit thru.

Based on an inspection I recently saw on a basement..... those would not pass for egress windows.
 
Concretemasonry voted this post useful.
  #8  
Old 04-27-19, 03:25 PM
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: USA
Posts: 5,651
Received 1 Upvote on 1 Post
The opening of the windows shown is too small to qualify as egress windows. Check on your code to see if the opening is large enough.

The egress indow opening also has to have the sill height less than a specific height to allow children to get out.

Dick
 
  #9  
Old 04-27-19, 04:36 PM
Tolyn Ironhand's Avatar
Group Moderator
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: United States
Posts: 14,153
Received 811 Upvotes on 683 Posts
Yeah, there is no chance those windows meet the requirements for egress. Covering them up should have no code issues.
 
  #10  
Old 04-27-19, 04:47 PM
B
Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: New England
Posts: 9,460
Received 47 Upvotes on 43 Posts
This isn't related to just the windows but a good read on finishing a basement.
https://www.buildingscience.com/docu...ts?full_view=1

Bud
 
  #11  
Old 04-27-19, 04:52 PM
XSleeper's Avatar
Group Moderator
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 26,824
Received 1,839 Upvotes on 1,654 Posts
Maybe I misunderstood what an egress window is
yes you did. Cover it up if you want or need to.
 
  #12  
Old 04-27-19, 06:43 PM
S
Group Moderator
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: WI/MN
Posts: 19,074
Received 1,248 Upvotes on 1,192 Posts
From a resale perspective, I would just get some dark curtains.
 
 

Thread Tools
Search this Thread
 
Ask a Question
Question Title:
Description:
Your question will be posted in: