Can I Fit Egress Windows by Myself?

It is not recommended to fit egress windows yourself. It is an intensive and precise job that requires cutting holes in your basement walls. As such, many homeowners feel more comfortable allowing professionals to handle egress window installation. Hiring a professional is the best route because they have the specialist tools and knowledge to install an egress window quickly and safely. 

If you choose to install one yourself, you could face many negative side effects, including:

• Improper Installation 

A DIY installation has many challenges and potential pitfalls; it is an incredibly complicated and tricky process that is best undertaken by a professional. For a start, if you install the wrong kind of window or allow too little space, your window will not be compliant with regulatory requirements. This means that no matter how good of a job you did, your basement would not be officially finished. 

Secondly, if you install the window poorly, you are likely to have issues with it sticking and leaking. This will not only be dangerous in times of need, but it will also cause damage to the rest of your basement over time. Persistent dampness may not seem like a huge issue, but it can lead to many problems, including pest infestation and increased energy bills. 

• Damage and Collapse

Installing an egress window is far from straightforward; many things can go badly wrong. After all, to install an egress window, you must cut a hole into the side of your property. This means a huge amount of excavation, for a start, and the use of heavy machinery to penetrate the thick walls of your basement. 

There is a very real possibility that you will injure yourself or someone else in this process if you don’t know how to use the equipment properly. There is also a chance that you will cause cracks in your basement walls. Finally, cutting a hole in your wall to install an egress window can lead to the collapse of that wall if you are not careful about placement and the process of installation.