Professional Basement Egress Window Installation
Egress Windows That Make Your Basement Legal, Bright, and Safe
Planning a basement bedroom or apartment? Code-compliant egress windows are the non-negotiable first step. We handle excavation, installation, and waterproofing as one job.
What Is a Basement Egress Window?
A basement egress window gives you a safe way out in an emergency, right from your basement. Unlike a regular basement window, it's built and positioned to work as an actual exit, not just a source of daylight and ventilation.
Size alone doesn't tell you if a window qualifies. What decides a window's ability to work as an egress opening is the usable opening, how the window operates, and the clearance around it. If your current basement windows are small, fixed, or hard to open, they probably won't meet egress requirements.
When Does a Basement Need an Egress Window?
Are you planning a basement renovation, a new bedroom, or a secondary suite? Think about your egress window needs early. Where the window sits, its size, and how it operates shape your room plan and indicate whether the existing opening still works.
Basement Bedroom
Finished Basement Living Space
Basement Apartment or Secondary Suite
Replacing a Small Existing Basement Window
What Is Included in Our Basement Egress Window Installation?
Your egress window installation covers everything from the first site visit to the final finish, not just the window itself. Depending on your existing opening and how far the window sits below grade, we handle excavation, foundation work, the window well, drainage, and waterproofing as needed.
Site Assessment & Measurements
We assess your proposed location, existing opening, surrounding foundation, and exterior conditions, then take measurements to determine the right window size and the scope of work before installation begins.
Foundation Opening or Cutting
If your existing opening is too small for the selected egress window, we enlarge it. A new window location can require a new foundation opening.
Egress Window Installation
Once we prepare the opening, we fit, insulate, and seal your new window as part of the installation.
Window Well Installation
If your window sits below the surrounding grade, you'll likely need a window well to keep soil away from the opening and give you usable clearance outside the window.
Drainage
Drainage around the well matters. Blocked drainage, grading problems, or other site conditions can lead to standing water, so we review your drainage requirements as part of the project scope.
Waterproofing & Sealing
We seal the foundation opening and surrounding installation to help manage water around your window.
Interior & Exterior Finishing
We complete finishing and cleanup according to your agreed scope once the window, well, and surrounding work are in place.
Egress Window Testimonials
“The entire process was really smooth and the installation crew was really great! They did an excellent job. Would highly recommend.”
“Excellent service. Everything was done timely, carefully and professionally. We were very grateful for such an amazing service. Definitely recommend for all your window needs!”
“Replaced 14 windows and 2 doors. Was very happy with the team. They took the time to explain the products, find solutions that work, and worked around my schedule and the general home renovations to get the work done!”
Ontario Egress Window Requirements
Your egress window needs to meet Ontario's applicable requirements for the room and project it serves. What determines compliance is the usable opening, not simply the window's outside dimensions.
Your window needs to operate so you can use the required opening without obstruction. Opening dimensions matter, and if your window sits below grade, the clearance inside your window well can also affect your escape path.
Permit and inspection requirements can depend on your municipality and the work involved, especially if you enlarge an existing foundation opening or create a new one.
Review these factors early, before you finish walls or complete other work, so you know exactly what your project needs.
Does an Egress Window Need a Window Well?
Not every egress window needs a window well. It comes down to where your opening sits in relation to the exterior grade.
If your basement window is below ground level, a window well keeps soil away from the opening and provides usable space outside the window. You need enough clearance for the window to open and for the opening to work as intended.
Drainage plays a big part in any below-grade installation too. Blocked drainage, grading problems, or groundwater conditions can cause water to collect in a poorly drained well. Replacing your window alone will not fix every possible source of water in your basement.
How Much Does Egress Window Installation Cost in Ontario?
Your egress window installation cost depends on the work your basement actually needs. Installing a window into an opening that already works is a different project than enlarging a concrete opening or creating an entirely new one.
Factors that can affect your estimate include:
- Existing opening size
- Foundation cutting
- Window size and style
- Excavation
- Window well requirements
- Drainage
- Waterproofing and sealing
- Interior finishing
- Access to the work area
Site conditions can turn two similar-looking projects into very different scopes. A below-grade installation that needs excavation, foundation cutting, and a new well involves more work than fitting a window into an opening that already suits it.
Because every basement and foundation is different, your egress window costs can vary significantly from one home to the next. We provide a project-specific estimate after reviewing your basement and installation conditions, so you know exactly what your project entails before we start any work.
Enlarging an Existing Basement Window vs. Creating a New Opening
Every basement egress project falls into one of three scopes, and each comes with a different amount of work.
Existing Opening
If your existing opening is in the right location and can accommodate your selected window, you'll likely need less foundation work to install it.
Enlarging an Existing Opening
If your basement window opening is too small, we may need to widen or lower it. That can mean foundation cutting, excavation, and additional interior and exterior finishing.
New Opening
Installing a window where no opening exists is a bigger project. We handle the excavation, create the foundation opening, and plan your window, well, drainage, and sealing requirements together.
We Install Basement Egress Windows in Ontario Near You!
Egress installs take us across the GTA and Southern Ontario from our base in Newmarket. Find your community below, or call and describe your basement and we’ll tell you what’s possible.
Newmarket
Blog Roll
The Pros and Cons of Sliding Windows
Are Awning Windows Egress? (Explained)
Why Basement Windows Leak After Heavy Rain (And When The Foundation Is The Real Problem)
Egress Window FAQs
Window Experts handles the complete egress window project from initial consultation through final inspection. Our certified crews manage excavation, window installation, well construction, proper drainage, and finishing work. Each project varies based on your basement layout and local building codes. Contact us at (416) 844-0099 for a detailed scope breakdown.
Basement egress window costs vary depending on window size, excavation requirements, and installation complexity. Window Experts provides free, no-obligation estimates with transparent written quotes and no hidden fees. Contact us at (416) 844-0099 to schedule your complimentary consultation and receive accurate pricing for your Ontario home’s specific needs.
Yes. We are fully licensed, insured, and certified across Ontario, we pull the required municipal permits, and our in-house crews build to provincial code. Comprehensive liability coverage protects your property throughout the dig and the install.
There is no special provincial licence for egress installers, but the work must pass municipal permits and Ontario Building Code inspection, and that is where experience shows. Window Experts is fully licensed and insured, with over 10,000 window projects completed since 2017 and a 25-year warranty on products, installation, and service.
Egress installations carry our 25-year lifetime warranty on the window, the installation, and service, including the sealing work that keeps the well watertight. Ask us to walk through the exact coverage during your estimate.
Our certified installation crew will provide detailed preparation instructions before your scheduled service date. We’ll walk you through exactly what to expect and help you prepare the basement area for egress window installation. On service day, our team handles the heavy work while keeping you informed throughout the entire process.
Need a Basement Egress Window Installed?
If you're adding a basement bedroom, planning a finished basement, or replacing a small existing basement window, review your egress opening before you finish the rest of the renovation.
We'll assess your proposed location, take measurements, and give you an estimate based on your actual installation conditions.