Basement egress window installation
A new egress window is a full project: digging, cutting the foundation, setting the window and building the well. Here's what to expect.
An egress window gives a basement room a way out in a fire and a way in for firefighters. It also brings in a lot more daylight than the small windows most older Fargo basements came with. Installing one means turning an existing small window, or a solid stretch of foundation wall, into a larger opening that meets the residential code.
Which style of window works best?
- Casement. Hinged on one side and cranks fully open, so almost the whole frame is clear opening. It usually lets you meet the code with the smallest cut in the wall.
- Horizontal slider. Only half the frame opens, so the rough opening has to be wider to reach the same clear area. Sliders have no crank to wear out and don't swing into the well.
- Single or double hung. Rare in basements, because they need a tall opening and that usually means a deeper cut and a deeper well.
Whatever style you pick, the number that matters is the net clear opening with the window fully open, not the size printed on the window's label. Ask the installer to show you the manufacturer's clear-opening figures.
How deep will the well be?
That depends on how far below grade the opening sits. Once a well is deeper than 44 inches, the code requires a permanent ladder or steps. Fargo's local amendments also allow a permanent platform at least 30 by 16 inches to cut the climb to 42 inches or less, and terraced wells with steps no more than 24 inches high. See window wells for more.
What should the quote include?
- The window make, style and clear-opening size
- How the foundation will be cut and whether a header is needed
- The well, ladder and cover, and how the well will drain
- Interior finishing: trim, drywall returns or a bare opening
- Yard restoration, haul-off of soil and concrete, and the permit
What affects the price?
- Poured concrete or block wall, and how thick it is
- Whether you're enlarging a window or cutting a new opening
- Well depth, material and drainage
- Access: decks, sidewalks, landscaping and how close the house next door is
The installer prices the job after seeing the wall, the yard and the room. We don't quote prices, and any number given over the phone before someone has looked at your foundation is only a rough starting point.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
Can an egress window go in during the winter?
Some installers dig year-round, but frozen ground slows excavation and backfill. Ask how they handle cold weather and protect the open wall.
Will an egress window let water into my basement?
Not if it's sealed, flashed and the well drains properly. Most problems come from wells with no drain, poor backfill or a yard that slopes toward the house.
Related services
- Cutting and enlarging openings
- Window wells and ladders
- Window well covers
- Basement bedroom code compliance
More background: Fargo egress window guide.
Finishing the basement or adding a bedroom down there?
Call now and a local egress window installer will help you plan the opening, the well and the permit.