I need to seal off a basement window which is in the way of raised patio I'm about to build.

My plan is to first remove the window and steel frame from my basement wall (which is poured concrete), then drill some holes for some rebar, add the rebar and then form the inside and outside with plywood. Once complete, I'll then fill the window with concrete.

I haven't removed the window frame yet, but I'm wondering about how a basement window frame is typically installed in a poured concrete wall? Will it be difficult to remove? I figured I would just start cutting away at it was a sawz-all and then prying it out.

Does this sound like the best way to seal off an existing basement window?

- Matt

I'm in the process of finishing by basement and was considering replacing the steel framed basement windows (there are 6 of them) with more efficient and functional models. I too am wondering how difficult it will be to remove them and was thinking to just sawz-all them out.

Did you rip the window out yet? Was it a pain? Please post your results.

Thanks

I just removed the steel frame last weekend. I had a Sawz-all and a RotoZip handy, but as it turned out, a couple good crowbars, hand mallet and chisel did the job. I did use the Sawz-all to cut some of pieces in half after prying them loose. I used the chisel to get a starting point around the outside edjes. Once I was able to get a crowbar underneath, it came out fairly easy.

FYI, in the process of ripping it out, small sections of the concrete foundation chipped away, which was not a problem in my case because I filled the window with concrete and rebar. Also, I thought the concrete was going to be a nice flat box, but it was actually formed to the window frame which had bump outs and notches. If you're putting in a new one, you'll have to deal with all of that.

Thanks for the info. I'm hoping when I rip out the windows, there will be enough of the concrete left for roughing in the window with 1x10 or plywood. I guess I'll keep some quick setting concrete mix handy in case I need to fill in.

Thanks again.

Does anyone know what kind of concrete to use so the patch does not leak.