Basement Window Replacement Types
Many basement windows are small units at the top of the foundation wall, there for light and air. Which one replaces yours depends on whether it needs to open, how much wall sits above grade, and whether the old opening is a standard size.
Hopper Basement Windows
A hopper is hinged at the bottom and tips in from the top, so it opens into the basement and doesn't need a window well. That's why it's the common pick for a small opening at the top of the wall. The labor is also on the cheap side, since the window sits above ground and is easy to reach. A hopper can't serve as an escape window, because of the way it opens.
Basement Sliders
A slider opens sideways, so it can be short and wide. Where the wall stands tall enough above the soil, a slider can go in without a well; with a well, a larger slider can let in far more light.
- Stock slider: about $150 to $700.
- Custom slider: about $700 to $1,000.
Choosing between the two? The hopper is the cheaper unit; the slider is the one that can grow into a larger opening with a well later. Above-grade sliders elsewhere in the house are covered on the sliding windows page.
Replacing Glass Block
Glass block lets in light, not air, unless the panel includes a vent. It doesn't open, so it can't be your only basement window or an escape route. If you want fresh air in a space you're finishing, swap the block for an operable hopper or slider. If the opening is only there for light, a new block panel is among the cheapest basement options.
Swapping Rusted Steel Basement Frames
Steel basement frames rust in damp foundations, insulate poorly and take more upkeep than other frames. Replacements come in four main materials:
- Vinyl: about $100 to $500 stock; moisture-resistant, low-maintenance and popular for basements.
- Aluminum: about $100 to $500 stock; doesn't rust and resists warping.
- Fiberglass: about $200 to $800 stock; unaffected by basement moisture and well insulated.
- Wood: about $200 to $800 stock, but dampness makes it a poor match for most basements.
A new stock steel unit still costs $250 to $800, and it can rust the same way.
Why Lowell homeowners call Lowell Window Replacement
- One independent window contractor gets your request
- Ask for the HIC number: MA contracts must show it
- Written contract on any job over $1,000
- The call and the referral are free
Basement Windows in Lowell: Leaks, Old Foundations and Code
Leaks
Basement windows leak more often than others because of where they sit in the foundation and how close they are to the ground. Check them for leaks often; added caulking may stop one. This isn't a do-it-yourself job, because the seal to the foundation has to stay watertight.Old foundations, odd sizes
Older basements are where non-standard openings turn up, and they're the reason a custom unit costs more and takes longer.A bedroom downstairs
A finished room used for sleeping needs an escape opening, and a hopper or small slider won't do it. Cutting or enlarging the opening and adding a well is a different job; see egress windows for the sizes and the well.Closing an opening instead
Filling in an unwanted basement window runs about $60 to $200 per square foot, depending on the wall and whether there's a well to fill too.Glass and energy
Basement units come in ENERGY STAR versions too; for what to look for on the label, see energy-efficient windows.
See awning windows for the awning and hopper styles used above grade.