Finance & Money

Archive for September 30th, 2010

If you have been looking around online at window wells, you have probably run across the term ‘egress’. And if you are like many people, this word is not familiar to you. An egress window well is simply one that is large enough to allow an adult to escape through in the case of an emergency. It also should be big enough to allow a fireman carrying his equipment to enter the home. Many local building codes today require that new window wells meet these specifications.

The typical older home has the type of basement well that is made from cement. These window wells are not large enough for a fully equipped fireman to enter the home and most are barely big enough for an adult to squeeze through. Most areas in the U.S. do not require that homeowners replace those old, small window wells with the larger ones, but many homeowners are choosing to do so anyway.

The egress window wells being sold today not only meet the building codes but they are very attractive both from outside and inside the home. Many are made of a composite material that looks and feels like natural stone. They also come fitted with a step that can be used in emergencies. These window wells can be found online as there are many retailers specializing in them.