Egress windows
A window big enough to climb out of
A basement bedroom needs a way out that does not go through the stairs. We cut the wall, set the window and build the well.
Building codes set the minimum size for the opening. A typical rule: at least 5.7 square feet of clear opening, 24 inches high, 20 inches wide, with the sill no more than 44 inches off the floor. Your township's adopted code and your inspector decide what applies to you.
What the job includes
A concrete or block wall cut, with a steel lintel where the wall needs it
A window and a well sized to the opening, with a ladder or steps if the well is deep
Drainage in the well, tied to the footing drain where there is one
Flashing and a cover, so leaves and snow don't pack the well
The price
What moves the price of an egress window
The wall and the soil matter more than the window.
Wall material
Poured concrete cuts differently from block. Block can need more reinforcing.
Depth of the well
A deeper well needs more digging, a bigger wall and a ladder.
Soil and water
Clay soil and a high water table mean drainage and a cover.
Size and type
A single casement costs less than a wide slider.
Where it sits
A window under a deck or by a driveway needs a different well.
Utilities
A line near the cut gets located and marked before we dig.
The schedule
How an egress job goes
Two to four days on site, after the permit and the call to mark utilities.
- 01Before
Step 1: Call before you dig
We call Pennsylvania One Call, 811, a few days ahead so every line is marked.
- 02Day 1
Step 2: Dig and cut
The well is dug and the wall cut, with the opening braced.
- 03Day 2 or 3
Step 3: Set and seal
The lintel and window are set, flashed and sealed.
- 04Day 3 or 4
Step 4: Well and drain
The well liner, drain and gravel go in, then the cover.
Permits
Permits for an egress window
Yes. Cutting a foundation wall needs a permit, and some townships ask for an engineer's letter on the lintel. We handle the permit and tell you before the quote if a letter is needed, and what it costs.
Questions
Before you book
Do I need one if I don't sleep down there?
If the room isn't a bedroom, the code may not require it. We still suggest one, for light and for a way out in an emergency.
Can you add one to a block foundation?
Yes. It takes more reinforcing than poured concrete, and we price it on its own line.
Will it leak?
A well fills with rain unless it drains. We tie the drain to the footing drain where there is one, and put a cover on the well.
Need a way out for a bedroom?
Book the test and we will measure the walls while we are there.