Egress Windows

What is an Egress Window?

An egress window is a window that is required in specific locations in a dwelling and is intended to provide an emergency means of exiting a dwelling. Windows must meet specific size and requirements to qualify as an egress window.

The concept comes from having a safe way to get out and a size large enough for a firefighter in a breathing apparatus to get in to rescue you. There are several ways to achieve the 5.7sq ft requirement and an unlimited number of ways to do the well area. Above grade, a 5.0 sq ft window is all that is required. Ladders are required when the bottom of the hole is over 44″ .

If you’re considering a basement renovation as a way to expand your living space, don’t be surprised if your building department has something to say about it–especially if a new bedroom is part of your plan.

 

Why should Levco install your egress window?

1. Levco does several things the other guys don’t. We do our own work.
2. We dig it ourselves and often cut the wall ourselves.
3.  If we use a concrete cutting contractor, we are there when it is cut to protect your home from water damage.
4. We go above and beyond to waterproof the area below the cut. After all it is usually located below grade.
5.  We use materials and techniques to waterproof that the other guys haven’t even heard of.

Starting with the 2009 IRC building code it is a requirement all new residential construction to include an egress window in every bedroom. This additional requirement is fairly recent, so most existing basements were not built with egress windows. Benefits of a new Egress Window include: more fresh air, better natural lighting, and security. By far the best value to adding an egress window to your home because it instantly raises the value of your home by increasing the number of legal bedrooms.

Where are egress windows required?

If you install a basement bedroom or bedrooms, an egress window is required in each bedroom. If you have an existing home and you add a sleeping room in an unfinished basement, the code requires that you install an egress window in the sleeping room or rooms. Egress windows are required in every room used for sleeping purposes (bedrooms) on any floor and in basements with habitable space. If you are constructing a new home, the code requires that you put an egress window in each bedroom. It also requires an egress window in the basement if habitable rooms will be finished in the basement.

If you install a basement bedroom or bedrooms, an egress window is required in each bedroom. If you have an existing home and you add a sleeping room in an unfinished basement, the code requires that you install an egress window in the sleeping room or rooms.

How much does an Egress Window cost?

There are easy ones and difficult ones. Much of the added expense comes from buried utilities and difficult access. Interior complications include electrical wires, finished walls, plumbing pipes and oversized concrete walls.

A good starting point for the first Egress window is $6,000 for a straight forward complete project with a metal window well. More complicated projects that are as a result of a aftermarket basement will be more. If you take some of the work away from us, (Digging the hole) the price drops.

Permit = Smoke Detectors & Co monitor

In addition to getting your egress window installed properly, we always get a building permit. If all you are doing is adding egress then there is no need to update smokes and C monitors. If you are doing other work then you must. We include updating your home to be code compliant into the cost.

Levco has grown to the point that we only create egress windows in remodeling projects that we are doing.