Choosing the Right Basement Windows for Your Home
A finished basement is the icing on the cake. With the remodel finally finished you will start to see all the luxuries that your new basement will add to your home. Your house will gain some much-needed space along with some value that is now added to your house. Basement windows will turn a dark damp room into your new favorite area.
In the makeover process of finished basements, homeowners make this one detrimental mistake: choosing the wrong the windows. Basement windows are often overlooked and even neglected in this transformation, left behind to be doomed to their cobwebs and rusted frames. New basement windows are an absolute must for a fresh room’s aesthetics and your home’s overall energy savings. With so many window options, how do you choose the right style?
Setting the Standards
There are two styles of windows most commonly used in outfitting a basement: awning and hopper windows. The vast majority of basements are mostly sitting underground, so equipping a subterranean room with standard windows can be awkward. Awning and hopper window styles are designed to fit nicely into small areas, like tight bathrooms and basements with limited above-ground access.
Awning Windows
This style of window is hinged at the top and opens from the bottom. You’ll see awning windows often in basements because the style allows for venting and airflow, but they aren’t wide enough—or open wide enough—to be a concern for a security breach.
Awning styled windows get their name because when opened, they create an awning as they jut outward against your home. This makes them the most ideal basement window because you can crack them open for a welcomed breeze in any type of weather without fear of inviting in sleet, hail, rainwater, or snow.
Hopper Windows
Opposite to the awning window is the hopper window, which instead of opening from the bottom, is hinged at the bottom so it opens from the top. These windows are the same smaller rectangular size as the awning window and are frequently used in basements. Like the awning window, they don’t take up much wall space, so for partially underground basements, they make the perfect companion to vent air.
Hopper windows are customizable. Add in a second pull-down lever for greater security if necessary or install a hopper window with a split pane, where you can open either the left or right side, or both.
Although you’d think that hopper windows wouldn’t do a superior job in keeping out dirt and debris because of how they open, you’d be wrong. These windows block dirt from entering your basement because of their tilt. And like their cousin window, the awning style, they’re ideal for ventilation and security, just wide enough to let in a breeze but not open enough to allow an unwanted stranger to shimmy through.
Glass Block Windows
Not all of us are interested in ventilation or having open exposure in basement windows. Glass block windows offer privacy and security for a homeowner wanting both, but not willing to sacrifice the aesthetics of a newly revamped basement room. Choose your glass style to complement the interior décor of your basement room and rest assured that no passersby will peek inside through your new glass block windows.
Setting Trends
While awning, hopper, and block windows are the most popular choices for basements, you can introduce certain styles that are found in the upper portions of homes like double-hung windows, picture windows, or sliding windows provided you have the space.
Double-Hung Windows
Double-hung windows are typically found in living rooms, bedrooms, hallways, kitchens—anywhere in a home to usher in a breeze and plenty of natural light. You don’t associate these windows with basements, but why not?
You can outfit a partially or fully above ground basement with double-hung windows, a style that can be easily modified and customize able at low costs. Transform a common basement room into something breathtaking, ridding that stereotype of dark, dingy basement caves with natural light and open air.
Sliding Windows
Break up wall space and your interior design with a sliding window. For partially below grade basements, sliding windows can offer a modern look along the ground-level portion of your basement. Again, they’re not wide enough to allow a person to slip through, so security remains intact.
Sliding windows (and sliding doors) host many options for above ground basements. Open your basement up to the natural world and allow the entire room to be flushed out with fresh air. These windows are installed on a sliding track and operate with ease thanks to their sleek design.
Picture Windows
Homeowners that don’t have a need to let air flow through their basement and prefer a secured window aren’t out of options beyond the glass block style. There is the picture window, which works quite well with above-ground basements. Picture windows can be installed to frame beautiful scenery, utilizing nature as your basement’s décor.
Does Your Basement Need Windows?
There are many benefits of basement windows, but that doesn’t make their price tag prohibitive.
When homeowners in Cedar Rapids need replacement windows, they look no further than Feldco. We’ve served over 350,000 homeowners across the Midwest and would love to help you with your next project. Get a free quote now and see why so many people trust Feldco for window replacement.
