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Happy Wednesday Serious Homeowners!
What are Basement Egress Windows & What to Know
Today’s product pick - All in one Clothes Washer/Dryer.
July Maintenance List
Need ideas for your next home build or renovation: 32 Ideas For Your Next Home
Do You Need Basement Egress Windows?
What You Need to Know
f you're finishing your basement, or you already have, there's a good chance the words "egress window" have come up. It's one of those code requirements that catches homeowners off guard, sometimes after the drywall is already up. Here's what egress windows are, when you're required to have them, and what the building code actually demands.
What Is an Egress Window?
An egress window is a window large enough for a person to climb through in an emergency, and for a firefighter in full gear to climb in. It's not about light or ventilation; it's a second way out if the stairs are blocked by fire or smoke.
When Is One Required?
Under the International Residential Code (IRC), any room used as a sleeping room, anywhere in the house, including a finished basement, must have an emergency escape and rescue opening. So if you're turning part of your basement into a bedroom, guest room, or any space someone could sleep in, you need a code-compliant egress window or a door leading directly outside.
Basements without a bedroom are typically exempt, but many jurisdictions still require at least one egress opening in a fully finished basement regardless of room use, and some require it for any habitable space. Local code can be stricter than the IRC baseline, so it's worth checking with your building department before you finish the space, not after.
The Size Requirements
This is where most existing basement windows fall short. Per IRC Section R310, an egress window must meet all of the following:
Net clear opening: at least 5.7 square feet (5 square feet is allowed for a grade-floor opening, i.e., one at or near ground level).
Minimum height: 24 inches, clear opening.
Minimum width: 20 inches, clear opening.
Sill height: no more than 44 inches above the finished floor.
Note that these are minimums for the net clear opening, meaning the actual space you can climb through once the window is open, not the overall window frame size. A window that looks big enough on paper can still fail if its opening mechanism eats into that clearance.
Window Wells & Where to Buy Them
Because basement windows sit below grade, most need a window well to bring the opening up to ground level. Code requires:
A minimum area of 9 square feet.
A minimum horizontal projection (length and width) of 36 inches.
A permanently affixed ladder or steps if the well is deeper than 44 inches, so someone can climb out.
Window wells also need to stay clear of debris and typically require a cover that a person can still push open from inside, not one that locks or requires tools to remove.
Here are a few options for budget, quality and luxury window wells:
Typical manufacturers include: Bilco, Rockwell, Wilbert Precast, Verti-Crete, Omega Precast, Lockwood Precast, White Block Company, Boman Kemp
Signs You Might Need to Add One
You're finishing a basement and adding a bedroom or any room someone could sleep in.
Your existing basement windows are small, high on the wall, or open only a few inches (common with sliders or hoppers).
You're selling a home with a "bedroom" in the basement that doesn't have a compliant window. Appraisers and inspectors will flag this, and it can affect how the room is counted (or whether it's counted as a legal bedroom at all).
Your home was built or finished before current code and never had one retrofitted.
What It Involves
Adding an egress window to an existing basement usually means cutting a larger opening in the foundation wall, installing a code-sized window, and excavating and building a window well outside. It's a more involved project than a typical window replacement, and it's worth having a contractor or engineer confirm the wall can be safely cut before work begins.
What Does It Cost?
An individual egress window install generally costs about $6,000 to $10,000 per window.
This cost includes excavation, cutting the basement wall, reinforcing the structure, installing the window, repairing the interior finishes and trim, setting the window well, backfilling, installing the cover and ladder.
The cost goes down the more windows you do at once.
The Bottom Line
If your basement has, or will have, a bedroom or any sleeping space, you need a compliant egress window. Even without a bedroom, many local codes still require one for finished basements, and having one is good practice regardless of what the code technically demands. Before you finish a basement or list a home with a basement bedroom, it's worth having the existing windows measured against R310 to confirm they actually qualify, rather than assuming they do.
Building codes vary by state and municipality, and some jurisdictions adopt amended versions of the IRC. Check with your local building department for the exact requirements in your area.
Home Product Pick - GE 2-in1
In under 3 hours, you can run a load of laundry from start to finish. No switch clothes over from the washer to the dryer.
To top it off, you get these benefits with the General Electric 2-in-1 Washer Dryer:
More space in your laundry room for base cabinets or other storage
Large 4.8 cubic feet capacity
A more energy efficient heat pump powering the system
The GE Profile UltraFast Combo is a genuine 2-in-1 washer and dryer — one drum, one door, one cycle — and it's ventless, so it runs off a standard 120V outlet and a water hookup. No exterior vent, no ductwork, no separate dryer taking up a second spot in your space.
Here's what makes it work:
No load transfer. Load your clothes once. A full wash-and-dry cycle finishes in about 3 hours, so you're not moving wet laundry from one machine to another.
Ventless heat pump drying. It dries with recirculated, high-speed air instead of high heat, which GE says is roughly 50% more energy-efficient than a standard electric dryer — and gentler on clothes.
Room for all your clothes. 4.8 cu. ft. of capacity, big enough for a king-size comforter, so you're not limited to small batches just because the machine is compact.
Smart features. Connects to WiFi through the SmartHQ app for cycle alerts, and the top model auto-doses detergent for up to 32 loads with Adaptive SmartDispense.
A few extras worth knowing about: a dedicated pet hair removal mode, Microban antimicrobial protection to keep the drum and gasket fresh, and an Eco Cool cycle for cold-water washing that still performs like a warm wash.
Retail pricing currently runs roughly $1,900–$2,100 depending on the model and finish (white or Carbon Graphite), often discounted from GE's $2,699 list price — worth checking current pricing before you buy.
If your space, your schedule, or your utility bill could use the upgrade, it's worth a look.
July Maintenance Reminders
GE All-In-One Washer/Dryer
See the links for awesome vides of each!
Are your home’s detectors too old?
Check out this past article to learn more about this critical component of your home.
Home Consulting Service
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The content of this newsletter is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Some of the links included in this newsletter are affiliate links, meaning I may earn a commission if you make a purchase through these links. Always perform your own due diligence before making any financial decisions.