Would you feel comfortable having your guest sleep in your windowless, finished basement?

[Anonymous]

Call the fire dept and ask. Our basement has several windows that are high up and small. Would not be easy to get out of during a fire. There is a door to the main living space and door to outside. It's legal and passed county inspection.

[Anonymous]

I have same set up. The staircase to garage is cement steps going up to garage, second staircase goes to main floor. Dude the house would have to be insanely on fire and all smoke detectors disabled for an issue.

I have two bedrooms on basement. I use one for junk and one guest room

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sounds fine to me. Teenage boys are not that picky. It has a door to the outside, so it’s safe.

No, a door to the garage is not a door to the outside. Fire could be in the garage. Outside means literally that--outside.

Although my SIL's house has a basement bedroom, one side of the basement has sliding windows to the outside but it's on the other side. I'm trying to think if the bedroom even has windows, let alone egress windows. . . I do remember that when they bought it there was no deck outside the kitchen sliding windows which were one story off the ground, the first thing they did was build the deck.

[Anonymous]

My biggest concern with it would be the location and type of furnace the house has. If it’s an oil furnace in the basement then hard no.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sounds fine to me. Teenage boys are not that picky. It has a door to the outside, so it’s safe.

No, a door to the garage is not a door to the outside. Fire could be in the garage. Outside means literally that--outside.

Although my SIL's house has a basement bedroom, one side of the basement has sliding windows to the outside but it's on the other side. I'm trying to think if the bedroom even has windows, let alone egress windows. . . I do remember that when they bought it there was no deck outside the kitchen sliding windows which were one story off the ground, the first thing they did was build the deck.

Pp, I didn't realize an exit to the garage doesn't count as an egress, but the code in my area is clear-on exit has to open directly to the outside. Thanks for the info

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sounds fine to me. Teenage boys are not that picky. It has a door to the outside, so it’s safe.

No, a door to the garage is not a door to the outside. Fire could be in the garage. Outside means literally that--outside.

Although my SIL's house has a basement bedroom, one side of the basement has sliding windows to the outside but it's on the other side. I'm trying to think if the bedroom even has windows, let alone egress windows. . . I do remember that when they bought it there was no deck outside the kitchen sliding windows which were one story off the ground, the first thing they did was build the deck.

OP here

Ok, but if the fire was in the garage, couldn't he just go up the stairs to the kitchen and exit there?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My biggest concern with it would be the location and type of furnace the house has. If it’s an oil furnace in the basement then hard no.

OP here.
Interesting...I'm actually not sure if it's an oil furnace or not. Our inspection is coming up so I will find out. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Thank you everyone! The other option could just be do have the teen boy sleep on the living room sofa. I thought the basement would offer more privacy--especially if he was sleeping in.

OP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sounds fine to me. Teenage boys are not that picky. It has a door to the outside, so it’s safe.

It is not safe and you are an idiot. I suggest you read the fire code. Opening a door when there is a fire creates an inferno.

"If the door is completely cool, open it cautiously. Put your shoulder against the door and open it slowly.

A fire that has died down for lack of oxygen can flare up when a supply of fresh air rushes through the door you open.

If heat or smoke enters the room, slam the door and make sure it is closed securely."

PP, please ignore the responses from the two ignorant losers who already responded. It wouldn't be DCUM if people like them didn't chime in to make the rest of us thankful that we're not them. I found your descriptive post appropriate and a helpful reminder. Hopefully none of us will ever be in such a situation but it is good prompt to think about how to escape a potentially deadly situation with a fire.

[Anonymous]

Plan to add an egress window for safety, especially if his mother is alive and will catch wind of this.

[Anonymous]

I would feel extremely uncomfortable with this arrangement due to fire. Sleeping, or even hanging out down there. Add a window!

If you add a window (need not be fancy) definitely yes! We sleep in the finished basement at my ILs and it is totally fine. We used to have a house with a finished basement ourselves, and the guest room was down there. It was really nice (and quite private- also a nice full bath down there).

I’d add a window.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sounds fine to me. Teenage boys are not that picky. It has a door to the outside, so it’s safe.

No, a door to the garage is not a door to the outside. Fire could be in the garage. Outside means literally that--outside.

Although my SIL's house has a basement bedroom, one side of the basement has sliding windows to the outside but it's on the other side. I'm trying to think if the bedroom even has windows, let alone egress windows. . . I do remember that when they bought it there was no deck outside the kitchen sliding windows which were one story off the ground, the first thing they did was build the deck.

OP here

Ok, but if the fire was in the garage, couldn't he just go up the stairs to the kitchen and exit there?

NP: yes. But do you really want to risk anything like this? Now that you know- just add the window. You will worry otherwise. I would.

[Anonymous]

I think many teenage boys would be far happier in the basement than in an upstairs bedroom. Privacy is often very important and, as a guest they can be less worried about making too much noise if they want to stay up a bit later than the rest of the household.

[Anonymous]

Add a window. 5k.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Add a window. 5k.

This is definitely the solution and will provide a great deal of comfort to you.
I don’t know if $5k is a good number or not, but get a few quotes and do the right thing.