Basements, especially those built before WW II, were designed to only be used as storage areas. Nowadays, most homes use their basement as extra living space. When basements are used as more than just storage, an egress window is imperative to let people escape in case of fire or other incidents. These windows add a touch of natural light and provide ventilation to an otherwise dark and dingy basement. If your house doesn’t have a window in your basement, you might want to consider a basement egress window after finding out the installation cost in your area. Most current building codes require for egress windows to be large enough to allow full grown adults to escape in case of fire. If your windows are big enough to be climbed out of, they are big enough for someone to enter. While there are some definite advantages that an egress window offers, there can also be some security risks that come along with it if they are not properly secured.

If you want to ensure the safety of your house, it is a good idea to consider the following points:

1. Use Plenty of Lights: Light can be great deterrent to criminals from attacking your home. You can add lights near the basement window or get bright lights set up in your yard to make sure the outside is always lit. Research has consistently shown that lights discourage criminal activity. Burglars or thieves will often prefer a dark area to break in rather than a place that has proper lighting

2. Use Reinforced Glass: Criminals won’t hesitate to break glass to enter your home. The solution is to install reinforced windows that are difficult to break. You can also consider putting window films on your windows for added privacy. While some provide an additional layer of strength to your glass, their true purpose is to hold the shattered pieces together and make it difficult for an intruder to enter. Depending on the materials you use, your basement egress window installation cost might increase. But you can’t put a price on security.

3. Add Locks: One of the simpler solutions you should consider is locking your windows using locks that can’t be unlocked from the outside. Depending on the kind of window you have, you may find this solution a great option. Fortunately, these locks are inexpensive compared to other measures.

4. Install Security Cameras: Having a security system in your house ensures that you and your loved ones are safe from any attack. Setting up a camera near your basement window as a part of a larger security system will help you monitor suspicious activity. Presence of visible cameras will also deter criminals from trying to break in.

5. Don’t Grab Attention: Make sure that your basement windows are well hidden from outsiders. One quick way to ensure that is to arrange furniture around the egress window. Inside your basement you can also use a tall cupboard to block the window. In short, do not make it easy for intruders to enter your house through your egress window.

Your safety is in your hands. To get quality and secure basement window installation contact Adam Basement and get a free evaluation.