Hey everyone,

I'm starting to toss around ideas for finishing my basement. I'm
stuck on windows. I have 2 small 12 x 20 windows that are under my
deck that I am thinking of framing closed, and 1 other 12 x 20 window
that I want to make larger to let in more light.

This would entail cutting the foundation to make it larger. Yikes!
The window in the wall in question runs parralel to my joists, so I'm
not worried about weight or anything like that. Am I better of
renting a saw that I can cut the foundation wall with, or should I get
a diamond blade and cut it with my circular saw.
I know a rental saw would probably take the beating better, but, can I
get one that I can operate 7 feet off the ground? Does a circular saw
and a nice $40 blade have a chance of cutting thru my foundation wall?

oh, and any advise on closing in the 2 other windows? they have a
metal frame that looks like was in place when the foundation was
poured. I was thinking of just pulling out the glass and framing the
opening with PT lumber and putting a board on each side of some
insulation

Dave

On 30 Oct, 13:05, Zephyr wrote:
Hey everyone,

I'm starting to toss around ideas for finishing my basement. I'm
stuck on windows. I have 2 small 12 x 20 windows that are under my
deck that I am thinking of framing closed, and 1 other 12 x 20 window
that I want to make larger to let in more light.

This would entail cutting the foundation to make it larger. Yikes!
The window in the wall in question runs parralel to my joists, so I'm
not worried about weight or anything like that. Am I better of
renting a saw that I can cut the foundation wall with, or should I get
a diamond blade and cut it with my circular saw.
I know a rental saw would probably take the beating better, but, can I
get one that I can operate 7 feet off the ground? Does a circular saw
and a nice $40 blade have a chance of cutting thru my foundation wall?

oh, and any advise on closing in the 2 other windows? they have a
metal frame that looks like was in place when the foundation was
poured. I was thinking of just pulling out the glass and framing the
opening with PT lumber and putting a board on each side of some
insulation

Dave

Do you know if the foundation has rebar in it?

See he http://www.komar.org/projects/crawls...ting_concrete/

"Zephyr" wrote in message
This would entail cutting the foundation to make it larger. Yikes!
The window in the wall in question runs parralel to my joists, so I'm
not worried about weight or anything like that. Am I better of
renting a saw that I can cut the foundation wall with, or should I get
a diamond blade and cut it with my circular saw.
I know a rental saw would probably take the beating better, but, can I
get one that I can operate 7 feet off the ground? Does a circular saw
and a nice $40 blade have a chance of cutting thru my foundation wall?

oh, and any advise on closing in the 2 other windows? they have a
metal frame that looks like was in place when the foundation was
poured. I was thinking of just pulling out the glass and framing the
opening with PT lumber and putting a board on each side of some
insulation

How thick is your foundation? That circular saw is not going to get
through. You'd have a better shot with a rental, an even better shot at it
by calling a pro and paying to have it done. That is not easy work. At
work, we tried cutting just a groove in concrete and burned up two saws.

For the windows you are blocking, if you want some light consider glass
block.

On 30 Oct, 15:04, "Edwin Pawlowski" wrote:
"Zephyr" wrote in message
This would entail cutting the foundation to make it larger. Yikes!
The window in the wall in question runs parralel to my joists, so I'm
not worried about weight or anything like that. Am I better of
renting a saw that I can cut the foundation wall with, or should I get
a diamond blade and cut it with my circular saw.
I know a rental saw would probably take the beating better, but, can I
get one that I can operate 7 feet off the ground? Does a circular saw
and a nice $40 blade have a chance of cutting thru my foundation wall?

oh, and any advise on closing in the 2 other windows? they have a
metal frame that looks like was in place when the foundation was
poured. I was thinking of just pulling out the glass and framing the
opening with PT lumber and putting a board on each side of some
insulation

How thick is your foundation? That circular saw is not going to get
through. You'd have a better shot with a rental, an even better shot at it
by calling a pro and paying to have it done. That is not easy work. At
work, we tried cutting just a groove in concrete and burned up two saws.

-- For the windows you are blocking, if you want some light consider
glass block.

That's what I did. I got a price for 4 windows from the estimator-guy
who I think priced them on size alone. The guy who actually installed
the windows spent hours trying to get the metal frames out of the
foundation. Based on the time he spent on these windows, I got a real
good price!

BTW...they can install vents in the windows...mine are like a single
pane jealousy window with a screen and removable interior storm.