Below grade
Basement Windows Replaced in Olathe Homes
We do basement window replacement in Olathe, taking out rusted steel frames, single-pane glass and drafty old hoppers and setting sealed vinyl windows into the foundation opening. You end up with a basement that stays drier and warmer, with windows that actually open and latch.
What usually fails on an old basement window
Basement windows sit low, close to the soil, and right behind a well that fills with leaves and snow. Over the years that does predictable damage:
- Steel frames rust through at the sill and stop latching
- Single-pane glass sweats in winter and drips onto the wall
- Old wood bucks rot where they meet the concrete
- Caulk dries out, and water runs in during heavy rain
Hopper or slider for a basement
Hopper
Hinged at the bottom and tips into the room. Good for short, wide openings, and it lets air in at the top where it’s less likely to bring water with it.
Slider
One sash slides sideways. Easier to reach on a high basement wall, and the sash lifts out for cleaning.
Either way, the new window is vinyl, so there’s nothing to rust or rot against the concrete.
Basement window replacement in a concrete opening
The old frame is cut out and the opening is cleaned back to sound concrete or a solid wood buck. Where the buck is rotted, it’s replaced with treated lumber. The new window is set level, shimmed, foamed and sealed to the concrete, then trimmed inside so the opening looks finished from the basement side.
Most basement windows take an hour or two each, and they can be done on the same day as the windows upstairs.
Basement window questions
Can a basement window be made bigger?
Cutting a larger opening in a foundation wall is egress work, which is a different job with a different crew. We replace basement windows in the opening that’s already there.
Do basement windows need safety glass?
It depends on where the window sits, such as near a stair or a tub. We check each location at the measure and order tempered glass where it’s required.
Does the window well stay the same?
Yes. The well, gravel and cover stay as they are. We clean out leaves and debris around the window while we’re there.
More of what we install
- 01Casement WindowsCrank-out sashes that press against the seal when the wind picks up.
- 02Double Hung WindowsBoth sashes move and tilt in, so the outside glass gets cleaned from inside.
- 03Full Frame Window ReplacementDown to the rough opening, or a new window set inside the old frame.
- 04Hail Damaged Window ReplacementWhole windows replaced after a storm cracks frames or breaks seals.
- 05Sliding Glass Door ReplacementThe full door unit out, a new one set on a flashed, level sill.
- 06Window replacement costThe Kansas City average and how a written quote breaks down.