Egress - Want a Way Outta Here??

Egress is a big deal when you’re designing a new home. If you check with Webster’s, you’ll find this word simply means  ‘an exit from a place.’

The word ‘egress’ sounds like a self-inflated term! Why not just say an exit from a place?  Well, I like the word!  It implies a certain importance which it deserves.  Why does it deserve this?  Because egress from a residence is of great importance in special situations.

Let’s say someone forgets to blow out the candles on the coffee table before going to bed.  About 2:00 am you awaken coughing.  You look out into the living area and it is filled with flames and smoke! You can’t run to the front door, or even the back door.  The only way out is whatever means available from your bedroom.  Let’s pray you don’t live in a post WWII house with  narrow, or extremely high windows.  Your bedroom could become a death trap!

Or, let’s say you recently built your home with the current trend of having a master bedroom on one side of the house, and all the other bedrooms on the other side.  The same scenario develops, but this time you have children in those rooms on the other side of the house.  Their windows need to be easily reached from inside their rooms, as well as big enough to fit through. 

The International Building Code sets these requirements for egress:  “Windows in designated sleeping areas must have a minimum of 5.7 square feet of operable space.  This opening space must be a minimum of 20” wide and 24” tall. And the open area cannot be more than 44” above the floor.”

If you want to stay with standard, single hung windows (the type which are fixed in the top half, and the bottom half raises) the minimum size window for a bedroom is 3’x5’, which sits about 20” above the floor.  If you like casement windows, the minimum size would 2’-6” x 5’. 

As your building designer I will keep in mind features to keep your family safe, as well those which make the house attractive and comfortable!  Please contact me in Denton, Texas, through my website:  www.ellensullivan.net

Avoid a Remodel Disaster

About half my business is in designing remodel projects.  The goal is always a happy ending to the project!

Remodeling projects can run the gamet from adding on storage space behind a garage to tearing out interior walls and creating new uses for existing spaces.  No matter how 'small' the project may seem, it pays to consult a professional building designer.  We can plan the space and offer suggestions to enhance your needs and ideas.  This can ultimately save you time and money! 

A simple addition to the back of a garage might negatively impact the view from inside the house.  Or it could be an eyesore from the backyard.  The addition of a small gable could bring life and style to the garage addition without breaking the budget.  The idea is to not allow an addition to negatively impact other living areas!

And my ultimate goal for the exterior of any addition is to have the look of 'always being there.' Nothing spoils the look of a house like an addition which is obviously an add-on!

For more information, please see my website at:   www.ellensullivan.net

Styles and Trends When Planning a House

It’s important to let your building designer or architect know about special decorating features you want in your house.  Don’t assume anything should just wait for your decorator! 

For instance, in the 1920’s it was very popular to install stained glass windows in houses.  A homeowner might spend a fortune on a custom window, and then leave it exposed to the elements on the outside surface.   These windows were very poor insulators and often developed cracks due to expansion and contraction of the lead used to construct the design.  After some years that expensive window became a big problem!

The trend is back, but with an updated twist. A stained glass window should be installed from inside the house with a small space between it and a fixed glass, exterior window.  Of course, it’s best if the stained glass window is designed after the fixed window is installed.  But some people don’t want to wait!  So, it important to tell your building designer or architect of your intentions.  We can then be sure to call for a fixed glass window in a certain size.  It would be a shame to have the divider bar of an operable window cast a shadow behind the stained glass. It would also detract from the exterior view of the house.

When you are planning a home or remodel project it is important to tell your building designer about all the special features you want.  Your building designer can guide you to many ways of planning which will pay off in the future!

Take a look at my website and contact me for more good design ideas:  

http://www.ellensullivan.net/