No, but if you decide to finish the space as habitable at a later date, you will be required to install an egress window. To what extent can I have my contractor finish the basement in my house currently under construction? (ex. framing exterior walls only, future egress window, storage room, etc.) Work in your new home can not exceed the scope of work as indicated on the plans that were submitted and approved by the Codes office.

Emergency openings are required to have a minimum net clear opening of 5.7 sq. ft. with a minimum opening height of 24” and minimum opening width of 20”. See Seattle Residential Code Sec R310.1 (pg. 50), and CAM 303A, Common Seattle Residential Code Requirements, for more information. See similar questions...

Any room used for sleeping requires an egress window with a minimum of 5.7 square feet clear area. Maximum sill height is 42". See similar questions...

There are a number of reasons, including avoiding further damage to your home and contents, sustaining your property value and potential for additional living space. Equally compelling are the potential risks a wet basement could pose to your health. See similar questions...

Ideally, You need to dig 1 foot wider than the side cuts, 4 feet back from the wall, and 1 foot deeper than the bottom cut. (In many cases this digging can be achieved by an aggressive "Do it Yourselfer".) Due to time constraints and scheduling it is very important that this task, along with all necessary layout of cut lines be completed prior to our arrival at your site. See similar questions...

Yes. Certain size systems are compliant with section 310 of the UBC, section 310 of CABO and section 310 of the IRC 2003. Please see the Egress section for more details. See similar questions...

We need about 5 feet cleared away from the wall inside the basement and 3 feet on each side of the cuts. You must remove any items or shelving that are in this area of the cuts prior to our arrival. We will need to install protective tarps and have access for a vacuum in the area provided if necessary. See similar questions...

There is a growing trend towards larger basement windows that enhance basement livability. Options range from do-it-yourself painting, factory option roll coated pre-paint white finish, or the simple to install high quality scene called Window Well Pictures. Top See similar questions...

If any of the proposed grading takes place on 15% or greater slopes, a grading permit is required but will be issued only after a plan submittal has been made for the single family residence on the parcel. If the proposed grading does not take place on any 15% slopes a grading permit is required if 1,2 or 3 in “When do I need a grading permit?” apply. See similar questions...

You can use any deep cycle marine battery, as long as it is not maintenance-free. However, there are several advantages to using a Basement Watchdog battery. The Watchdog battery accommodates the system’s fluid sensor which will sound an alarm when the battery needs water…a very important feature, since a dry battery will not perform. In addition, Basement Watchdog batteries run longer per charge, and last years longer. See similar questions...

YES. The floor and walls are a significant source of heat loss. An insulated floor is warmer and drier; and it has direct influence on your comfort. Putting carpets on a floor only makes it feel warmer. If you have a heated floor insulation is very much necessary, as the heat loss through the floor would be higher than 50%. This heat loss is a huge and unnecessary waste of money. Return on investment for floor insulation is very quick, mainly because of the low cost of INSTA-PANELS®. See similar questions...

A permit is not required for the installation of interior wall finishes or the construction/alteration of non-load bearing walls/elements. However, if there is new plumbing for a basement washroom then a plumbing permit is required. See similar questions...

No refunds will be given for unfinished lessons unless requested within 30 days after registration. Within 30 days after registration refunds are given, less instructor costs ($100 per course; $200 per package). See similar questions...

This question addresses two issues: houses that look unfinished and houses that are unfinished and maybe have stood so for a long time. In the first instance the houses may LOOK unfinished because iron bars stick on top of the roofs. This is absolutely not to avoid paying property tax (as the legend has it) but to simplify the building of another floor in some distant future. A house could also BE unfinished because the owners are waiting for finances to continue with the building. See similar questions...

Yes. The majority of our homes are built over full basements. Depending on the topography of the land, either a full basement or a crawl space can be used since our pre-cut log homes are constructed upon "conventional" sub floors with ease. See similar questions...

If you do not intend to finish your basement walls, meaning covering them permanently with stud walls and sheeting, then it is not always necessary to remove all old existing paint before SANI-TRED installation, as long as good common sense understanding of the importance of the removal of the peeling painted areas are understood and accomplished. It is common to have100% waterproofing success by removing only 50% of the old paint. See similar questions...

YES. The basement is the coldest place in your house. Up to 35% of the energy losses in your house come from the basement, so it most definitely needs to be insulated. A well-insulated basement will save money normally spent on heating, and improves the comfort level of your house. Many customers complain about dampness in a cold basement, and the only way to fix this is to make sure it is insulated properly. See similar questions...

The on site building manager requires each car in the basement have a parking permit. This helps him manage the number of cars each unit has there to prevent the garage area from becoming over crowded. Additionally, it helps find vehicle owners in the event a car needs to be moved or relocated for some reason. See similar questions...

Showers in the basement are becoming more popular everyday, and every job is different. If you are interested in a cement base, dry pack mortar bed (as opposed to a fiberglass base) you may want to have a tile shop do the install. Waterproofing is the most important thing in the tiling of showers. We suggest you use a cement board on the walls. See similar questions...