Missing egress window header
James Israel
2 years ago
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GN Builders L.L.C
2 years agoJames Israel
2 years agoRelated Discussions
Please help with Header Height question
Comments (15)First, if you want to avoid framing mistakes don't continually switch from inches to feet & inches and don't use 30 to mean 3'-0" or use any other form of representing feet and inches. The problem with trying to align door heads and window heads by specifying the same header height is that a door frame will be set to the floor to minimize field trimming with no concern for the gap at the head. But a window frame will be set to the header to minimize the gap there. If the gaps are different, the height of the exterior trim will be different. In short, it's unwise to attempt to align exterior trim by aligning header heights. Unless the ceiling is the code minimum its not necessary and it can lower the heads of windows and reduce the light in the rooms. For a 9-0 ceiling, I would set the door header at 6-11 above the sub floor for a 6-8 door or 7-3 for a 7-0 door and assume the framer will do what he wants anyway. I would set the header for the windows at 7-11 (or 8-0 if there are any 8 ft high sliding doors). If that interferes with the exterior facia trim I recommend putting the rafters on a platform framed attic floor. These are tall windows but my clients are more concerned with light than window treatment. I like to use a taller exterior trim for the head of windows. that allows slight differences in trim height for different sizes of openings. For an 8-0 ceiling I would set the window header at 6-11 and hope there are no exterior doors nearby. An inch or so difference in inside head trim height is unlikely to be perceptible. If there are second floor sliding doors their headers may be a few inches lower but I would keep the windows up and use wider tim at the slider heads. Yes, the head sections for most awning and casement windows are different than for double-hung windows so when aligning them you must detail them very carefully not just align the frames. I have sometimes been forced to use a single stationary sash from a double-hung. A framer is unconcerned with finish floor levels and ceiling heights, that's work for another trade, He needs the height of the exterior wall top plate from the sub floor. To determine that you need to know if the ceiling will be strapped for leveling or for acoustic separation. If those dimensions allow the use of a locally available pre-cut stud that's great but if not they can usually be pre-cut by the lumberyard to the necessary length....See MoreInstall egress windows in basement?
Comments (4)any risk in compromising the integrity of the foundation by having this done? If the added space is vertical and you're dealing with poured concrete it's not normally a problem. adding a brand new window ...as well There will have to be properly-sized steel headers above to take the load of the walls and floors. Spray foam insulation is the best way to fill all the gaps that will be exposed. If a permit is required in your jurisdiction, best not to cut corners to avoid it. Permitting officials will provide you an independent view on the minimum standards that have to be met....See Moreneed some urgent advice on window seat vs. bay window
Comments (25)Sophie - I disagree. I did not design this. I have no pretensions to being a designer and for many other aspects of the renovation we have indeed had formal plans drawn up. [I also know from experience that having an architect involved is far from a panacea .... but that's another story or stories]. For this room we knew we needed to replace the large leaky picture window and instead of replacing in kind we asked whether it would be possible and reasonable to build a window seat and what would be involved. We showed the contractor many pictures of window seats and shared the required dimension ranges (not exact dimensions) from various articles. He said a bay window would take care of it and no separate plans were required. I include the manufacturer's literature excerpt that says their Bay and Bow windows can be used as window seats. It seemed (and actually still seems) a reasonable solution. Projection Window Bay and Bow windows are like a piece of fine furniture for the façade of your home. These unique windows project from your home, creating additional space that can be used for a variety of purposes, such as a window seat or displaying meaningful trinkets. Our vinyl windows (typically double-hung or casement windows) are inserted into a solid frame to create this unique look that adds style to any home. Bay windows typically have three lites (one central fixed lite and two flanking operational lites) at 20-25-degree angles. Bow windows most commonly consist of four lites, all of which can be fixed or operational, set at 10-15 degree angles. The contractor asked us to describe what we wanted to the window vendor as well and we did. We never used the term bay window. We only talked in terms of window seat. The window vendor also did not dissuade us or suggest we needed an addition instead of a window. The window vendor spec'd the window we needed. Given that we have 8 foot ceilings - this would have been a really good place to catch that a 52" bay window wouldn't be long enough to provide a seat at a reasonable height off the floor. I think that's the key flaw here - plus someone's telling us that (unless I'm wrong) we weren't going to get the wood backing. Tomorrow should be interesting ......See MoreHeader for egress window with balloon framing
Comments (3)my sill rests on top of my poured concrete foundation. I will be cutting into my foundation to create a new opening for an egress window in my basement. That means my sill, and the rest of the framed house, will be above my window. I hope this cleared things up!...See MoreGN Builders L.L.C
2 years agoJames Israel
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2 years agoJames Israel
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2 years agolast modified: 2 years agoJames Israel
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agoGN Builders L.L.C
2 years agoGN Builders L.L.C
2 years agoJames Israel
2 years agoHomeSealed Exteriors, LLC
2 years agoGN Builders L.L.C
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2 years agoJames Israel
2 years agoGN Builders L.L.C
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2 years agoJames Israel
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2 years agolast modified: 2 years agoJames Israel
2 years agoGN Builders L.L.C
2 years agoJames Israel
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agoJames Israel
2 years agoGN Builders L.L.C
2 years agoJames Israel
2 years agoGN Builders L.L.C
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agoJoseph Corlett, LLC
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agoJames Israel
2 years agoJames Israel
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2 years agoJames Israel
2 years agoJames Israel
2 years agoJames Israel
2 years agoJames Israel
2 years agoGN Builders L.L.C
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