Basement Construction Fundimentals
Some Building Codes specifiy that the clear opening of a basement egress window should be at least 20 inches wide and at least 24 inches high, and achieve a minimum area of 5.7 sq. ft.-the smallest opening an average adult male can reasonably crawl through. In addition, the window sill-the bottom edge of the window-cannot be higher than 44 inches from the basement floor.
Basement egress windows have special requirements. Since you’re below ground, you have to make sure that the window can still fully open without obstruction. Make sure the basement window well has enough area to move around in and if the well is especially deep, make sure you have a ladder attached to it for an easy getaway. Also, if the well is under a deck, make sure there is enough space between the deck and the window. In other words, give yourself enough room to escape. These specialty windows don’t do anybody any good if there are other exterior obstacles that may end up trapping you.
In British English the word “basement” is used for underground floors of, for example, department stores but is used for a space below the ground floor of a house only when it is habitable, with windows and (usually) its own access. The word cellar is used to apply to any such large underground room. Subcellar is a cellar that lies further underneath.
If the walkout is not covered and is open to rainfall or water penetration, then a drain provision is needed at the bottom of the walkout stairway. Sometimes, there is a drainage grate or track in front of the tread of the door. Rainfall and snow can fill up an open walkout that has drainage problems. Overflowing gutters may also deposit a lot of water into an open walkout.
Many walkouts do not have covers. Some have one or two manufactured hinged doors. While performing the exterior inspection, check the cover or doors. If it’s locked, you’ll have to delay your inspection until you can get into the basement to unlock it. Check for damage, rust, rot, hinge condition, the surface condition of the cover or door, and how well it operates. Once open, a manufactured door over a bulkhead walkout should stay and remain open by itself. Check to see if this safety feature is present. If it is not, you may report it as a concern.
In Canada, historically the basement area was excluded from advertised square footage of a house as it was not part of the living space. For example, a “2,000-square-foot bungalow” would, in reality, have 4,000 square feet (370 m2) of floor space. More recently, finished space has become increasingly acceptable as a measure which includes the developed basement areas of a home. Due to fire code requirements, most jurisdictions require an emergency egress (through either egress-style windows, or, in the case of a walk-out basement, a door) to include the basement square footage as living space.
The Barrie Home Inspector using the latest technology will inspect your basement using moisture meters and thermal imaging cameras to detect any hidden signs of water or moisture intrusion.
Want to find out more about Barrie Professional Home Inspections, then visit our Thermal Imaging site on how to choose the best Barrie Home Inspector for your needs.
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