What it is
A window big enough to climb out of
An egress window is the way out of a basement bedroom. It is cut into the foundation wall to a set size, with a well outside that you can stand in.
We cut block and poured walls with a wet saw, set a header over the opening, install the window and build the well with its drain. Inside, we frame the buck, trim it and patch the wall.
Clear opening of at least 5.7 square feet
Sill no higher than 44 inches from the floor
A well with a drain and a cover that opens from inside
In the price
What's included, and what's not
Included
The opening, cut and hauled out
A header over the opening
An egress-size window, flashed and sealed
The well, drain and cover
Inside framing and trim
Permit and utility locate
Not included
Rock or a boulder in the dig
Moving a gas, water or sewer line
Finishing the room
Paint beyond the patch around the window
What changes the number
What moves the price
Wall type
Block, poured concrete and stone are cut three different ways.
Depth of the sill
A low sill means a deeper well and a ladder.
Lines in the way
A gas meter or water line near the wall slows the dig.
Window type
A casement opens wider than a slider of the same size.
One opening or two
A second window in the same visit costs less than a second visit.
Access
A narrow side yard means hand-digging.
How it goes
Steps and who shows up
- 01
Step 1: Measure and mark
Gaoly or Mesfin measures inside and out and chalks the opening on your wall.
- 02
Step 2: Locate and permit
We call 811, file the permit and set the dig day.
- 03
Step 3: Dig and cut
Zbigniew's crew digs and wet-cuts the wall, then sets the header.
- 04
Step 4: Set and seal
Window, flashing, well and drain.
- 05
Step 5: Trim and inspect
Inside trim, backfill and the inspector's visit.
Permits and rules
The permit counter reads the numbers
An egress opening cuts through the foundation, so Milwaukee and the towns around it ask for a permit. We file it, and we schedule the inspection while the opening can still be seen.
The sizes we work to are 5.7 square feet of clear opening, 24 inches tall, 20 inches wide and a sill no higher than 44 inches. Your inspector's reading rules, and we confirm it with the town before we quote.
Questions about this job
Can you cut an old stone foundation?
Sometimes. Stone walls vary house to house, so we look at the wall before we say yes. If the wall is unsound we say so and don't cut.
Will the window leak?
A well with a drain tied in and a window flashed to the wall keeps water out. We show you the drain before we backfill.
Can I leave the window as it is for a home office?
A window that doesn't meet the sizes works for a den or an office. A bedroom needs the full opening; that's the line most inspectors draw.
My house was built before 1978. What changes?
Disturbing paint on a window in a home built before 1978 falls under the EPA lead-safe rule. We tell you before work starts and use the practices it asks for. The firm's certificate is on the credentials page.
Ask about your wall
Send a photo of the wall or call. We measure before we quote.