Basement windows
Basement Windows Replaced in Wentzville, Opening by Opening
We handle basement window replacement in Wentzville homes: old steel, aluminum or single-pane basement windows come out, and new vinyl windows go into the openings already there, sealed to the foundation so the basement stays drier, warmer and easier to air out.
What's Usually in a Wentzville Basement Wall
In the newer subdivisions, the basement windows are mostly small builder-grade sliders or hoppers set in poured concrete. They were the cheapest window on the house when it was built, and they show it first: latches that won't catch, cracked tracks, and glass that sweats all winter.
Older houses closer to downtown often still have steel-framed basement windows. Those rust from the sill up, get painted shut, and leak cold air around a frame that no longer fits the opening.
Either way, the signs are the same: water or rust stains on the sill, a window you can't open or can't lock, a draft you can feel standing next to it, or cracked glass.
Basement Window Replacement in the Existing Opening
The old sash and frame come out first. Steel frames are often set into the concrete and have to be cut free in pieces. Then the opening is cleaned back to sound concrete, and the wood frame around it, where there is one, is checked and replaced if it's soft.
The new window is built to the measured opening, set level, and sealed to the foundation with sealant made for concrete. The outside gets a bead of caulk and, where it helps, a trim cap; inside, the gap is insulated and finished with trim or left clean for the drywall in a basement you plan to finish. The opening stays the size it is, so there's no cutting into the wall.
Choosing the New Basement Window
- Hopper. Hinged at the bottom and tilting in from the top, it airs out a basement without taking up much room. The usual pick for small openings.
- Slider. For wide, short openings, one panel slides past the other.
- Fixed. For an opening you never need to open, such as one behind the furnace or above a shelf.
Obscure glass gives privacy in a basement bathroom without blocking the light, and screens come with every window that opens. Choose the same color and line as the upstairs windows and the outside of the house reads as one job.
Wells, Leaves and Water
A basement window set below the ground in a well is only as dry as the well. If yours fills with leaves or holds water after a storm, a new window there won't stay new for long. We'll point that out when we measure, and a clear cover over the well keeps out most leaves and rain while still letting in light.
Egress Openings Are a Separate Job
Making a basement window bigger so a bedroom has a code-sized escape opening means cutting the foundation wall and digging a new, larger well. That's foundation work, and it's not something we do. A basement or foundation contractor handles it. We replace basement windows in the openings you already have.
Basement Window Questions
Can a basement window be replaced from inside?
Most of the work, yes. The old window comes out and the new one goes in from the basement side, and we only step outside to seal and caulk around the exterior. If the window sits in a well, the well needs to be clear enough to reach the outside edge.
Will a new basement window stop condensation?
It helps a lot. Single-pane glass and steel frames get cold enough that damp basement air beads up on them, and insulated glass in a vinyl frame stays much warmer. If the basement air itself is very humid, a dehumidifier is still part of the answer.
What if the wood around the window is rotted?
Many basement windows sit in a wood frame fastened to the concrete. If that wood is soft, we replace it with new rot-resistant material before the window goes in, and the quote says which openings need it once we've looked.
Do basement windows need to match the windows upstairs?
They don't have to, but they usually look better when they do. We can order them in the same line and color as the rest of the house, either in the same job or later.
Replace the basement windows
Tell us how many basement windows you have and which ones give you trouble. We'll measure each opening and quote them one by one.