Basement Progress: A Window of Opportunity

As we thought about our plan for the basement, we considered replacing one of the traditional glass block windows with an egress window. We decided to move forward for a few reasons:

• Safety: As we mentioned before, we plan to use this space a lot in the future. Not only will it be a place for guests to stay from time to time, but it will also serve as a home office and Analiese’s daily play area. So, from a safety standpoint, it was a no brainer.
• Aesthetics: The original plan was to replace one window. Somehow, I convinced Ross that two were the way to go. From a symmetry standpoint, I thought it would look so much better and much more like a finished room. It would also provide a lot more natural sunlight, which in a dark basement, is priceless.
• Future planning: We’ve talked about our friends K & D many times. Their hearts for foster care and adoption has made an impression on us that we hope to someday follow through on. Over the past year or so they’ve educated us on the many ways we can care for orphans–there really are many ways to help. Respite care is one such way. When you’re a foster parent, you have limited means to babysitters. We would love to be able to help foster parents who, for whatever reason, need a break or a night out alone. (I think we all can relate to that need, right!?) K & D have served in this respite care role for a few children since becoming certified foster parents. Their willingness to take in a child for a short period of time–ranging anywhere from one night to two weeks–is a true blessing to the child’s permanent foster parents. So, we’ve been praying about taking the necessary classes and steps to becoming certified foster parents ourselves so that we too can step in when planned or emergency respite care is needed. Because K & D have gone through the same training and home studies, we know that an egress window is required for certification. So, we’re ready for whenever that phase of our lives happens!

The cost for both windows took a big chunk out of our overall budget for this project, but we’re so pleased with the results. I can envision symmetrical curtain panels flanking both windows and I’m a little giddy.

We also worked with a great guy who was recommended to us by K & D. His prices were extremely reasonable compared to the other place I called who only offered a catalog menu of options found on their website. Mike personally came to our house to assess the project and gave us an accurate quote. We were lucky that we only needed one section of the well since our house sits rather high. A plastic cover was not necessary given the well’s depth, which helped the overall cost. We can always add the cover later, but our plans to add some landscaping to the side of the house may eliminate the need for covers all together.

A few weeks ago, we were hit with torrential rain and we discovered some water around one of the windows. We called Mike and he made it a priority to investigate and fix the problem.

The room is beginning to take shape and we are excited about the next step–walls!