Egress window installation
Most egress projects in the Twin Ports are full packages: dig, cut, set the window, install the well and finish the inside. Here's what goes into one.
An egress window is only as good as the whole opening around it. The window has to open far enough, the sill has to be low enough to reach, and the well outside has to be big enough to climb up through. Installers who do this every week plan all three together instead of picking a window first and hoping the rest fits.
Which windows work best for egress?
- Casements. They crank fully open, so a smaller frame can meet the clear-opening minimums. They're the most common choice in basements.
- Sliders. They're simple and tough, but only half the frame opens, so the unit has to be wider.
- Single- or double-hung. They can work but need a tall frame, which is hard to fit in a short basement wall.
Whatever the style, the 2020 Minnesota Residential Code measures the clear opening you get by opening the window normally from inside, not the size printed on the frame. Ask the installer to show you the net clear numbers for the unit they propose.
What should a quote include?
- The wall material and how the cut and any header will be handled
- The window make, style and net clear opening size
- The well type, size and depth, and whether a ladder is needed
- How the well will drain
- Where the dirt goes and how the yard is restored
- Interior trim, or what's left for your drywall crew
- Who pulls the permit and schedules the inspection
When is the best time to install?
Excavation is easiest when the ground isn't frozen, so spring through fall is the simplest time to dig. Ask installers whether they work through winter; frost and snow add steps. If you're finishing a basement, schedule the egress work before framing and drywall so the opening can be cut, inspected and sealed without tearing out new walls.
Do I need a licensed contractor?
In Minnesota, a contractor who sells homeowners work in more than one special skill needs a residential building contractor or remodeler license from the Department of Labor and Industry. Egress jobs usually mix excavation, concrete cutting, window installation and carpentry, so ask for the license number and look it up on the DLI website.
The installer prices the job after seeing the wall, the yard outside it and the room inside. We don't quote prices, and a number given over the phone before anyone has looked at the foundation is only a rough starting point.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
How long does an egress window installation take?
On-site work is often a matter of days once the permit is issued, but rock, a stone foundation, a deep well or interior finishing can stretch that. Ask the installer for a schedule.
Can I put an egress window anywhere on the wall?
Not quite. The installer has to avoid gas, water and electrical lines, keep clear of the property line and other structures, and pick a spot where the well can drain and you can get out to the yard.
Related services
- Cutting and enlarging openings
- Window wells and ladders
- Window well covers
- Basement bedroom code compliance
More background: Duluth egress window guide.
Finishing the basement or adding a bedroom down there?
Call now and a local egress installer will look at the wall and quote the opening, the window and the well.