On the surface of it, installing windows in a basement does not seem like a very difficult thing to do. In fact, you will find that in practice, it’s not all that difficult. However, the tricky part is making sure that you get all the details right, since this will be what determines whether it will be worth it or not. This means that when you are thinking of installing basement windows, you should always think things through rather than act on a whim. Doing the latter might sound like the easy way out, but it’s likely to result in a lot of regret later on.

Why would you want basement windows?

Most people who are familiar with basements may wonder why anyone would need a window in the basement. However, there are many applications for them including:

•    Making the basement more airy: due to their location, basements tend to be very musty and have a weird smell. You can install a window or two in the basement to act as a vent through which air can circulate with ease. This way, you will end up with one that smells a lot fresher, and which will also be less of a health risk especially to people who are predisposed to conditions such as asthma.

•    Increasing the amount of light in the basement: some people might want to modify the basement in such a manner that they can spend more time there. In such cases, depending on artificial light might not be appealing. By installing the windows, you can admit a lot more light into the basement. This makes it a better venue for your hobbies or even simply for relaxing.

•    For aesthetic appeal: when renovating the basement, you might want it to have a certain look. For instance, if you want it to look a bit bigger or want the colours in the interior design to pop, installing a window would be one of the best ways to do this. The natural light that comes into the basement as a result of this has a wonderful effect in as far as aesthetics are concerned.

As you can see, you really can’t run out of reasons why one would need to install windows in the basement.

What are some of the risks you face?

Most of the time, installing basement windows is a relatively simple process, and you can go through it with minimal complications. However, when you use a low quality contractor or when you rush through the process, there are a few things that can go wrong. Some of the commonest of these include:

•    Structural damage to the home: in the process of creating an opening for the windows, you may end up inducing a number of cracks or other defects in the walls. In order to avoid this, you should always leave this job to a high quality technician. The presence of cracks in basement walls is usually more difficult to deal with than in any other type of wall due to the location. In addition to that, they also tend to cause more damage, such as by letting in too much water into the basement.

•    Increased risk of flooding: sometimes, you may also find that the basement floods independently of the presence of cracks. Most of the time, this is due to a window that does not fit properly, or due to the use of materials that are of low quality. In such cases, water from the surface runoff might simply seep into the basement.

•    High costs: despite the fact that installing basement windows seems very challenging, it should not cost you the moon. The only time that this happens is when you work with a contractor who is out to exploit you, or when all the wrong decisions are made right from the start.

As has been alluded to, all the complications above can be avoided by simply making sure that you work with the right team when installing the windows. The one question you should always ask yourself when choosing one is: “are they any good at this?” Any contractor who does not have a very good track record should not be considered for this type of project. The reason for this is that most of them tend to make numerous mistakes that will make the presence of basement windows a nightmare for you, or will cost you a lot of money in the long run.

The other perk associated with working with a high quality contractor is the fact that you can use them for guidance. For instance, if you are not sure about the number of size of basement windows to get, you can always depend on them for this. This way, all the decisions you make will be based on proven facts.