Egress windows for legal bedrooms, safer exits, and more daylight downstairs.
If your basement has bedrooms, or you’re planning to add them, egress windows aren’t optional. Utah follows the International Residential Code, which requires an egress window in every sleeping room. It’s a life-safety requirement that provides an emergency escape route if the interior stairs are blocked by fire.
Beyond code compliance, egress windows bring in daylight, fresh air, and a safer exit. They can make a basement bedroom feel much less buried.
Utah Basement Finishing has installed hundreds of egress windows across Salt Lake, Utah, Davis, and Weber counties. We handle everything, foundation cutting, excavation, window installation, window well construction, drainage, and finish work. One crew, one project, done right.
For homeowners comparing window well pricing in Utah, the useful question is whether you need a well only or a full egress window project. A well-only job is much smaller than cutting the foundation and finishing the opening inside.
| Scenario | Typical planning range | What changes the price |
|---|---|---|
| Existing opening, replace or deepen the well | $1,500-$3,000 | Well depth, cover, drain tie-in, access, landscaping repair |
| New egress window with standard well | $3,500-$5,500 | Concrete cutting, window unit, excavation, drainage, trim |
| Oversized well or premium window | $5,000-$7,500 | Larger excavation, decorative well, better cover, deeper basement |
| Multiple bedroom windows in one project | $3,000-$5,000 each after the first | Setup costs are shared across the project |
For the detailed code and pricing breakdown, read the egress window requirements and window well pricing guide. If the room will be a sleeping room, also review our basement bedrooms page so egress, closets, lighting, and comfort get planned together.
Every egress window in Utah must meet these minimums:
Most casement windows need to be at least 36” x 24” (opening size, not frame size) to meet the 5.7 square foot requirement. We verify exact dimensions based on the specific window manufacturer’s specs.
We inspect the foundation wall (thickness, material, condition), check exterior conditions (soil type, grade, landscaping, underground utilities), and verify the proposed location meets code requirements for the interior room.
We call Blue Stakes (Utah’s 811 service) to mark underground utilities before any digging. We submit for building permits, egress window installation requires a permit in all Utah municipalities.
Exterior excavation → foundation cutting → window frame installation → window well placement → drainage system → waterproofing → backfill → interior finishing. A single egress window installation takes 2-3 days. Multiple windows are typically completed within a week.
The building inspector verifies window opening dimensions, sill height, well depth, ladder (if required), and drainage. We schedule and attend the inspection.
| Egress Window Installation | Cost Range |
|---|---|
| Single egress window (standard well, standard window) | $3,500–$5,500 |
| Single egress window (oversized well, premium window) | $5,000–$7,500 |
| Each additional window (same project) | $3,000–$5,000 |
| Window well only (window opening exists) | $1,500–$3,000 |
| Window well cover (polycarbonate, load-rated) | $150–$400 |
Factors that increase cost:
Do I need an egress window if the room isn’t a bedroom? Egress windows are required in sleeping rooms (bedrooms). Living rooms, offices, and family rooms don’t require egress windows by code. However, many homeowners add them anyway for the natural light and ventilation, and it future-proofs the room in case you or a future owner wants to use it as a bedroom.
Can you install an egress window in a concrete block foundation? Yes. We cut through CMU (concrete masonry unit) block foundations regularly. The process involves cutting the block, installing a steel lintel above the opening for structural support, and framing the window within the new opening. Slightly more involved than poured concrete, but a routine installation for us.
What if there’s a utility line where I want the window? We work around utilities. Gas lines, water lines, and electrical conduit can often be rerouted to accommodate a window. Sewer laterals are more difficult to move. During the site assessment, we identify any conflicts and plan accordingly, sometimes shifting the window location by a few feet solves the problem.
How much light does an egress window let in? Significantly more than a standard basement window. A code-minimum egress window is 5.7 square feet of opening, the window frame itself is even larger. Combined with a light-colored well liner and a clear cover, it’s comparable to a small first-floor window. Oversized wells amplify the effect.
Will an egress window affect my foundation’s structural integrity? Not when installed correctly. We size the opening properly, install engineered steel lintels above the cut to transfer the load around the opening, and ensure the remaining foundation wall retains its structural capacity. We’ve installed hundreds without a single structural issue.
How do you prevent water from coming in through the window well? Three layers of protection: (1) a gravel drainage bed at the bottom of the well, typically 6-12 inches of washed gravel over a drain pipe; (2) waterproofing membrane between the window frame and foundation wall; and (3) a window well cover that deflects rain and snow. In high-water-table areas, we connect the well drain to the home’s perimeter drainage system or a dedicated sump.
Add light and safety to your basement. Call 801-515-3473 for a free egress window estimate.
Utah Basement Finishing, 369 E 900 S #235, Salt Lake City, UT 84111 | Mon–Sat 8am–6pm