Why would anyone install windows in a basement? If you have single-paned steel basement windows in your home, you've probably been staring at them and asking yourself this very question.
The answer is obvious: you wanted to let beautiful natural light into the basement so it doesn't look like a dungeon. Of course, as steel basement windows rust, corrode, jam shut, and fall apart, they're hardly an attractive addition- even if you are getting more light through holes in the rust. With a humid basement on one side and a damp, rainy environment on the other, steel basement windows don't stand a chance. In just 5-10 years, they're usually in need of replacement.
If water is filling up your window wells or collecting outside of your basement windows, then they're likely to let in more than just sunlight. This water can leak in through the cracks and run down your basement walls, leaving an unsightly puddle in your home and possibly damaging possessions stored nearby.
While rainwater is coming in, heat from the basement is going out. Single-paned steel windows have an R-insulation rating of 1, which means that they stop only 50% of heat from passing through. This is an expensive drain on your home's energy! In fact, the US Department of Energy has reported that energy bills can be saved by 30-40% simply by sealing all windows in a home in cold climates. And of all the windows in a home, drafty, single-paned basement windows with heat-conducting steel frames are the least insulated of all!
If your basement windows need replacement or you're remodeling, the best option is to install double-paned vinyl windows. Unlike steel-framed windows, they will never rust, rot, or corrode. Additionally, they won't need to be repainted, and they'll continue to look beautiful for many years to come.
Best of all, vinyl double-paned basement windows are much more energy-efficient. Vinyl will not easily conduct heat out of your home, and the airspace between the two basement window panes adds insulation. A top-quality vinyl double-paned basement window will have an R-insulation rating of 3, which is three times the insulation rating of single-paned steel windows! Your investment will begin to pay back for itself as soon as it's installed in your home.
Basement Systems provides their dealers across the United States, Canada, and the UK with energy-efficient EverLast basement windows and SunHouse basement window wells Their vinyl double-paned windows have a Low-E rating and are designed with crystal-clear glass that gives your basement a brighter, more cheerful look. They slide open and closed smoothly and will never rust, rot, or corrode. And because they can be removed easily from their frame, they're easy to clean and double as an access point for sliding in long objects or boards into the basement.
Whether you need basement windows or anything else for your basement or crawl space (including a basement waterproofing, sump pump, basement remodeling, dehumidifier, or crawl space vapor barrier) Basement Systems has a locally-owned and operated contractor in your area. All estimates and consultations are free and come with no obligation. The basement is an entire floor of space in your home, and - make the most of it!
Jacques Bouchard
Basement Systems
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