Concrete masonry units are not difficult to cut and steel angles can be placed on the inside and outside for the header if there is room under the finishes. You won't know if it is feasible until you talk to a contractor.

You didn't say what those finishes are so I can't tell you more.

Hi Renovator,
Just stucco over concrete block on exterior and drywall on interior. Is that what you mean by finishes?

It is one story. I don't have the plans, unfortunately. Would keeping the window placement higher, say 3' or 4' feet off the finished floor, help with the rebar issue? Window 4 feet wide, 5 ft high, actually, not 6. Sorry. Size can be adjusted if necessary.

If it is cost prohibitive you could consider adding skylights since it is a one story. Nice in a bathroom b/c you get the lights and none of the privacy issues.

Thanks;
The local building dept. may have them on file.

At their determination, you may need the services of a civil or structural eng.

CMU structures will have both vertical and horizontal rebar.

Snooby,
Assuming I am able to get ahold of the plans at the county, and assuming rebar is not in the way, what kind of price range would we be looking at?

Kelin,
We are on two acres so don't have to worry about privacy so much, however a skylight is still very intriguing, especially if this venture is cost prohibitive. Do you know about how much a skylight including installation might go for?

In my very limited homeowner experience of installing an egress window through a concrete block basement wall, I am guessing between $2-4k depending on location costs and other factors. You need permits, the concrete cut, a header placed, window trim, and drywall repair if needed. Variables include where the joists run and if there is anything in the wall that needs to be moved.

Hopefully someone more knowledgeable will chime in.

I doubt that you would be so lucky as to avoiding the rebar.

Without the benefit of those determinations, $3-5k would not be an unreasonable expectation.

Engineering is an "exact" science, based upon "assumptions," which the local building dept. may deem you a beneficiary of, or not.

It's how it works.

Your roof and ceiling structure will determine the cost of a skylite installation.

Potentially a substantial reduction in cost.

Skyangel23:

It depends on what you mean by "a huge amount of money". If you don't have a 2-4K budget, you'd better wait.

I recently installed an impact 6' sliding door in Florida. Inspection made me cut the block, install #5 rebar in the lintel and foundation with structural epoxy, overlap the bar 24" and wire it, then fill the cavities with 6 bags of concrete. It added two days to the job.

How old is your home?

25 years old

You'll have to bring it to modern code.

Hello, your budget guidance was $2 - $4K seven years ago...what would this same job cost today? thank you.

double it minimum.