When is it better to use a poured concrete wall compared to a block wall?
“Use poured concrete for all exterior walls,” said Dale Dobbe of Basement Specialists Inc. in Greenfield. “Poured walls with steel reinforcing are far superior to block walls.” In Dobbe’s opinion, block walls should only be used as divider walls where there is no lateral pressure. Q: When is the use of an egress window required and what are its benefits? A: According to Bob Sebastian, CR, CKBR, of Brillo Home Improvements Inc. in Milwaukee, the code requires that anywhere there is a sleeping room, which is considered any room with a closet and a door, there must be at least two ways to get out of the house from that level in case of a fire or other emergency. “Because most homes have at least two doors to the outside or the garage on their first floor, an egress window is usually not required in first floor bedrooms,” he said. “It’s more common to talk about egress windows on the second floor or in the basement.” If a level of the home does not have two door exits, each bedroom on that
