Egress windows for Duluth and the Twin Ports

How it works

1. Call or send a request

   Tell us your town, the room you're finishing and what the wall is made of, if you know.

2. We connect you

   Your call goes to an independent egress installer that serves Duluth and the Twin Ports.

3. They call you back

   They look at the foundation and yard, then quote the opening, window and well directly.

Who is this for?

Homeowners, landlords and buyers in Duluth, Hermantown, Proctor and Superior who want a basement room that someone can safely sleep in. That usually means a new or bigger window low in the foundation, a well dug outside it, and sometimes a ladder and a cover. Common situations: finishing a basement, buying a house where the basement "bedroom" has a small hopper window, and landlords near the campuses who want a lower-level room to count as a bedroom.

What is an egress window?

It's a window big enough, and low enough, for a person to climb out of and for a firefighter in gear to climb in. Building codes call it an emergency escape and rescue opening. In a basement it's often the only way out of a bedroom other than the stairs, which is why the code ties it to sleeping rooms. A standard basement window from the 1920s or 1950s almost never qualifies, so most egress projects mean cutting a larger opening in the foundation.

What size does an egress window have to be in Minnesota?

The 2020 Minnesota Residential Code, as summarized by the state Department of Labor and Industry, sets a net clear opening of at least 5.7 square feet, with an exception allowing 5 square feet for openings at or below grade. The opening has to be at least 24 inches high and 20 inches wide when the window is opened normally from inside, and the sill can't be more than 44 inches above the floor. Those minimums work together: a window that is 20 inches wide and 24 inches high still falls short on area, so installers size up. Superior follows Wisconsin's code, which measures things differently. See the Duluth egress window guide for both.

Why are Duluth basements tricky?

• The hill. Much of Duluth climbs a steep slope from the lake. A wall that is half exposed on the downhill side may be fully buried on the uphill side, so where the window goes changes how deep the well is and whether it needs a ladder.
• Old foundations. Older houses may sit on stone, brick or hollow block walls rather than poured concrete. Each is cut and supported differently, and an installer should explain how the opening will be framed and the load above it carried.
• Rock close to the surface. The city is built on hard bedrock, much of it gabbro from the Duluth Complex. Where rock is shallow, digging a full-size well can take more equipment than a shovel and a mini excavator.
• Snow and meltwater. Duluth averages about 90 inches of snow a year. A well that fills with drifts can't be used as an exit, and spring melt that pools in the well can find its way into the basement.

Signs a basement window isn't a legal egress

• A short, wide window near the ceiling that opens inward or tilts
• A sill you'd need a chair to reach
• An opening you can't fit your shoulders through with the sash open
• A well so narrow you can't kneel in it, or deep with no ladder
• Bars or a cover you need a tool or key to remove

Does an egress window need a permit in Duluth?

Yes, plan on it. The City of Duluth's Construction Services and Inspections division lists windows among the work it issues building permits for, and its basement-finishing handout asks for a site plan when an egress window gets a window well. Creating a sleeping room also triggers the city's smoke alarm requirements. Your installer should tell you who is pulling the permit and when the inspector will come out.

What does a typical installation look like?

1. Site visit. The installer checks the wall material, where utilities and downspouts are, how the ground slopes, and what's on the inside of the wall.
2. Excavation. A hole is dug outside for the well, below the new sill.
3. Cutting. The opening is cut with a wall saw, and a header or lintel is added if the wall above needs support.
4. Window and well. The window is set and sealed, the well is installed and connected to drainage, and the hole is backfilled.
5. Inside finish. The interior is trimmed or left ready for drywall, depending on the contract.

Are you an egress window company?

No. Duluth Egress Windows is a referral service. We connect you with an independent installer that serves your address, and that company quotes, performs and stands behind the work. Read our tips for hiring an egress installer and the Duluth egress window guide before you sign anything.

Areas we cover

• Duluth
• Hermantown
• Proctor
• Superior

Planning ahead? Read our Duluth egress window guide.