Increasing the livable space of your home is never a bad thing from both a home valuation and functionality standpoint. It’s even better when you don’t have to pay a contractor for an expensive home addition or deal with the hassle of having builders in your house and on your property for weeks at a time. Finishing a basement and adding egress windows allows you to add extra bedrooms to your home without having to add an actual extension on to your property. Today on the blog, our Seattle window replacement experts share how to make a basement room into a bedroom with an egress window.
How to Convert a Basement into Legal Bedrooms in Seattle
If you’re looking to add livable space to your home, converting your basement into bedrooms is a smart move—but it’s not as simple as adding a bed and a door. To ensure your basement bedrooms are up to code (and count toward your home’s resale value), you’ll need to meet certain legal and structural requirements, especially when it comes to windows and egress.
Essential Basement Bedroom Requirements
According to the International Residential Code (IRC), a room must meet several criteria to be classified as a bedroom:
- Minimum Size: 120 square feet of floor space and at least 7 feet in both length and width.
- Ceiling Height: A minimum of 7 feet, with allowances for sloped ceilings if at least 50% of the room meets that height.
- Heating: The room must maintain a temperature of at least 68°F. Portable heaters don’t qualify—it must be ducted heat or passive heat from another source.
- Lighting & Flooring: Installing proper lighting (like recessed or track lights) and upgrading from concrete flooring to carpet or luxury vinyl tile can help the space feel like a true bedroom.
- Walls & Ceiling: Exposed pipes and subfloor ceilings should be covered to match the finished look of the rest of your home.
The Importance of Egress Windows in Seattle Basements
One of the most important—and commonly overlooked—requirements is the basement egress window. Every bedroom is legally required to have a second means of escape in case of fire or emergency. In Seattle homes, this typically means installing a code-compliant egress window.
A compliant basement egress window must have:
- A minimum opening width of 20 inches and height of 24 inches
- A net clear opening of at least 5.7 square feet
- A windowsill no more than 44 inches above the floor, unless steps or a ladder are permanently installed
- A window well (if below grade) that extends 36 inches out and is at least 36 inches wide
- Permanent steps or a ladder if the window well is deeper than 44 inches
Smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms are also required to meet current safety codes.
Why Work with Procraft Windows for Your Egress Installation
Creating a compliant egress window opening—especially in concrete basement walls—requires professional skill and experience. At Procraft Windows, we specialize in basement egress window installation in Seattle, helping homeowners gain functional space while staying up to code. From cutting the opening to installing the right window and ensuring proper drainage in your window well, we handle it all.
Thinking of turning your basement into legal bedrooms? Let Procraft help you maximize your space. Call 206-361-5121 or contact us online to schedule your consultation today.
