Basement egress window installation
A full egress install covers far more than the glass. Here's what goes into putting a code-compliant escape window in a St. Cloud basement.
Most basements around St. Cloud started out with small, high windows meant for light and air, not escape. An egress installation replaces one of them, or opens a new spot in the wall, with a window that meets the Minnesota Residential Code and a well that gives someone room to climb out.
Which window styles work?
The opening has to reach 24 inches of clear height, 20 inches of clear width and, for a below-grade window, at least 5 square feet of clear area, with the sill no more than 44 inches off the floor. Casement windows crank fully open, so they usually reach the area requirement in a smaller frame. Sliders and single-hung windows lose about half their frame to the part that doesn't move, so they need a bigger rough opening. Your contractor will show you the clear-opening numbers for the unit they recommend.
What's included in a typical install?
- Calling Gopher State One Call to locate buried lines before digging
- Digging outside the wall and protecting the yard and landscaping
- Cutting the concrete or block opening and adding a header where the wall needs one
- Setting and sealing the window and finishing the inside return
- Placing the well, drain rock and drainage connection, then backfilling
- A ladder or steps when the well is deeper than 44 inches
How does the permit work in St. Cloud?
The city's Building Safety Department handles residential permits through its Accela online portal. Its window handout calls for a site plan showing the distance from the property line to the window well, and when an opening is enlarged, a floor plan with the new size, nearby doors and the header. Plan review can take up to five business days. Ask your contractor to handle the application and schedule inspections.
What affects the price?
- Poured concrete versus concrete block walls
- How deep the window sits below grade
- The window style, size and glazing
- Well material, ladder and cover choices
- Access for equipment, decks, patios or landscaping in the way
- Interior finishing around the new opening
The contractor prices the job after seeing the wall, the yard and the room. We don't quote prices, and anything said over the phone before a site visit is only a ballpark.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
Can an egress window go in during winter?
Many contractors work year-round, but frozen ground, snow and short days can slow digging and backfilling. Ask the contractor how they handle a winter install.
Will a new egress window let in cold air?
A properly sealed, energy-code-compliant window shouldn't. St. Cloud's final inspection checks the window's energy rating sticker.
Related services
- Cutting and enlarging openings
- Window wells and ladders
- Window well covers
- Basement bedroom code compliance
More background: St. Cloud egress window guide.
Turning a basement room into a real bedroom?
Call and a local egress contractor will look at the wall, the yard and the permit with you.