Egress Windows

Basement & Attic Conversions

Egress Window Installation for Code-Compliant Bedrooms

Michigan building code requires every basement or attic bedroom to have an egress window. The minimum dimensions are specific: 5.7 square feet of net clear opening area, 24-inch minimum clear height, 20-inch minimum clear width, and a sill height no more than 44 inches above finished floor level. All four criteria must be met simultaneously — a window that satisfies three out of four fails the inspection.

Cutting through a poured concrete or concrete block foundation wall requires diamond-blade sawcutting and careful planning to avoid utilities and structural elements. We mark the opening location, confirm utility clearances, make the cut, and remove the concrete section cleanly. The window well is installed with a gravel drainage bed connected to the interior drainage system or a dedicated drain. The egress well cover must be operable from inside without a key or tool.

Beyond code compliance, egress windows change a basement meaningfully. A properly sized egress window brings substantially more natural light than a standard hopper window and improves ventilation in the space. We install the window with full flashing and waterproofing at the rough opening, interior casing to match the finished basement, and a rated well cover. The installation is permitted and inspected — homeowners using a basement bedroom for rental need that inspection documentation.