Egress Windows.

[Jessica C.]

Hello All,

 

I'm new to this forum.  My husband and I recently purchased a lovely bungalow in need of a lot of love.  By code we are required to install egress windows in all bedrooms (three upstairs and one on the first floor).  It looks like our only option to achieve the required 5.7 sf opening is to replace our small side by side double hung windows with a single sliding window (for the non original windows upstairs).  On the first floor, we would have to replace our perfectly good wood double hung window with a new casement window. I really don't want to get rid of the double hung window aesthetic on the house, but we are being required to upgrade to code.

 

Any recommendations?

[megan...@gmail.com]

Hi,

My husband and I faced a similar issue when we remodeled our 2nd floor. We had to put in all new windows and, due to code, could not put in double-hung in the bedrooms. We worked with Schaaf Windows (south suburbs) to create casement windows that looked like our double-hung. They look great from the outside and inside and were affordable. I am not a huge fan of casement windows, but for us it was the best option.

~Megan

[philmed...@gmail.com]

Greetings!

I'm new to this forum and noticed this thread (a yr. later) and curious what you did?  My wife and I recently purchased a berwyn bungalow and are in the same dilemma.  The code here is very similar to yours but was told by town clerks that the city doesn't actually measure the windows….

But is sucks that the egress windows are primarily vinyl.  

I'm looking to replace the old storm windows and keep the original wooden interior windows.

Do you know an contractors?

Thanks!

[Matt Schademann]

This sounds like a question for PBR!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Berwyn.History/

Myself, I'm ripping out ALL fake storm windows as I come across the original hinged. Look at the slots hiding in the woodwork...those were meant for screens. I'll have to have those custom made one day, but unless they're destroyed they are still there.

Egress are Satan. They're destroying our City's skyline and look absurd on the attic dormers. If you're near 19th and East, I'm 1849. Just ripped out all aluminum on front attic. The wood scraped, half primed and bead in need of stripping and staining, looks better now than with the metal sheets!

For what it's worth, almost all attics that were virgin (not special corner bungalows with a 2nd level of hardwood) never had storms to begin with unless you find evidence of hardware holes

[phil medina]

Thanks for the fb link Matt.  Unfortunately and fortunately, i'm not on fb….but will try to check it out somehow.

I meant to say that the old storm windows that i have are old aluminum and only two are the original wooden (kitchen).  I'm on 18th & Clinton….

Curious if you know the weird demanding code the town has for bedroom windows.  I believe they have a certain minimum dimension in case an emergency.

How about that old electrical cloth wiring.  Any recommendations on electricians that won't charge an arm&leg? 

thanks! 

[Matt Schademann]

So Phil...

Not sure what you were asking...you're not saying the City has required you, the new home owner, to remove your wooden sash windows in favor of egress are you?
The Building Dept has been writing fictitious code violations that don't exist, and we've prevented this assault against history by going straight to the big man in the 2nd floor office who had to tell them to knock it off. ALL ORIGINAL WINDOWS should be grandfathered in, and nobody should tell you otherwise.

Please reply to this as soon as possible so we can add another instance to the case...Use my regular email if you want to
-matt

[Jessica C.]

Hi Phil,

I talked the Berwyn Building department out of requiring the installation of Egress windows.  We bought our house as-is and were required to update to current code standards when we got it.  We did some of the upgrades that we found reasonable.  But since getting 5.7 sq ft clear opening for egress is essentially impossible in any existing bungalow window, we said we weren't planning on updating the windows yet (which is true) and would revisit the situation in the future.   (You can find the applicable codes Berwyn uses here: http://www.berwyn-il.gov/building_department )

While 5.7 sq ft of egress for a bedroom is part International Residential Code, it should not be required for a kitchen.  And it is up to the municipalities discretion which portions of code they enforce. So basically egress windows are part of IRC, but Berwyn could just as easily choose not to enforce it since it is not a reasonable requirement for a town full of brick homes build in the 1920's 

[eme...@willamette.edu]

Hi Jessica,

Thanks for the info.  We also bought our as is too.  Are they making you remove the electrical cloth wiring ?  They are too with us.

I did reach out to the building dept. about installing storm windows and they ok'd it.  The lady (Maria) assured me that she was going to call me back after she speaks to the director since they recently made a change to their code.

I'm excited that we don't have to get rid of the original wood windows, which I explained to her.  Now, it is the contractors that need to be aware of this.  Luckily the company I'm hiring to do the work already knows. (american thermal window).

Thanks to all for information!

[Matt Schademann]

I don't know if my messages are not showing up as visible...but again. You are NOT required to change a single thing for windows, or your cloth wiring.

There are these exceptions: disturbing the cloth by adding certain expansions, like additional outlets.
Or building out your attic with a legitimate living quarter. Or adding a legal bedroom to a basement. Or deciding you don't want to take on the task of restoring your potentially beautiful original milled attic windows. Then the replacements you must choose need to be the egress bullshit, in which case I have no sympathy upon that decision.

Historical grandfathering is a powerful tool. The primary inspector admitted to me that he was told to write up these violations by his overseer and the Mayor had to tell them to knock it off.