Egress Windows for Basement Bedrooms
A basement bedroom needs a way out in a fire. We install egress windows and wells sized to the numbers your city uses, so the room is safe for whoever sleeps there and ready for your city's inspection.
Egress Windows, Start to Finish
Egress means a way out. If someone is sleeping in your basement and a fire blocks the stairs, an egress window is how they climb out and how a firefighter climbs in. Most basement windows are short units set high on the wall. They let in light, but an adult cannot fit through them. Turning a basement room into a real bedroom usually means cutting a bigger opening, setting a new window and digging a well outside.
The numbers come from the International Residential Code, and cities post them in their own handouts. The West Des Moines Building Division checklist, for example, asks for a net clear opening of at least 5.7 square feet, at least 24 inches high and 20 inches wide, with the sill no more than 44 inches above the finished floor. Cities can amend the code, so always check with your own building department before you buy a window.
Des Moines has its own basement egress policy. It says all new homes need an emergency escape opening in the basement, and an existing basement being finished with a bedroom needs an egress window in that bedroom. The city's permit exemption for window swaps only applies when the rough opening size does not change, and an egress cut changes it. Plan on a permit talk early. Doing more windows too? See window replacement in Des Moines.
What an egress window project covers
- Opening planned to your city's egress numbers
- Casement or slider sized for net clear opening
- Window well with the needed clear area
- Steps or ladder in wells over 44 inches
- Drainage in the bottom of the well
- Flashing, trim and caulk at the new opening
Picking the right window style
Not every window that fits the hole meets egress. What counts is the net clear opening with the sash fully open, not the frame size. A casement swings all the way out, so a smaller unit can clear 5.7 square feet. A sliding window opens only about half its width, so it needs a much wider frame. On a double-hung, only the lower sash opens, so it rarely works in a basement. Luke checks the numbers on any unit before it is ordered. See our window installation and replacement page for the windows we install.
Window wells, ladders and covers
The well matters as much as the window. The West Des Moines checklist calls for a well with at least 9 square feet of net clear area, at least 36 inches out from the wall and 36 inches wide, and it must let the window open all the way. Wells deeper than 44 inches need a ladder or steps. Covers keep out leaves, snow and kids, but the code requires that covers and grates release from inside without a key or tools. Ask your city which cover styles it accepts.
Keeping the well dry
An egress well is a hole dug next to your foundation, so it collects water. Gravel in the bottom and a path for water to drain keep it from filling, and a cover helps in snow season. The bigger fix is the roof water above it. Des Moines gets about 36.5 inches of precipitation in a normal year, per the National Weather Service. We make sure gutters do not dump onto the well and downspouts carry water away, as covered in our guide on how far downspouts should drain.
Egress Windows Questions
Not seeing yours? Call or text (515) 901-3646 and ask Luke.
Luke, Jaxx & Larry
A family business, third generation. Luke runs every estimate himself and Jaxx works the jobs with him. Larry, the shop dog, mostly supervises.
What size does an egress window need to be in West Des Moines?
The West Des Moines checklist asks for at least 5.7 square feet of net clear opening, 24 inches of clear height, 20 inches of clear width and a sill no higher than 44 inches above the floor. Those match International Residential Code numbers, but cities can amend them, so confirm with your city's building department before ordering.
Does finishing a basement in Des Moines require an egress window?
Des Moines's posted policy says an existing basement being finished with a bedroom needs an egress window in that bedroom. Under that policy, finishing without a bedroom does not trigger it. Other cities write their rules differently, so call your building department and ask before you frame.
Can a sliding window be used for basement egress?
Sometimes, but it has to be wide. A slider opens only about half its width, and the open part alone must meet the 5.7 square foot, 24-inch and 20-inch minimums. A casement usually meets egress in a smaller frame because the whole sash swings open. We check the net clear opening on every unit.
Do egress window wells need a ladder?
Under the West Des Moines checklist, wells deeper than 44 inches need a ladder or steps. The well also needs at least 9 square feet of clear area and must project at least 36 inches from the wall. Your city may word it a little differently, so check the local handout.
Should I add an egress window before finishing my basement?
Yes, do it first. Cutting the opening, setting the window and digging the well is messy, and you do not want new walls nearby when it happens. Plan egress, framing and drainage together. Our basement buildout page covers how we frame the rest of the space.
How a Job Runs
Call or Text
Overflowing gutters, tired siding, a drafty window or an addition you have been planning. Tell us what is going on.
Free Estimate
Luke comes out, looks at the house, measures, and walks you through your options in plain words.
A Clear Plan
You get a written estimate and a straight recommendation. No pressure and no runaround.
Install Day
Our crew does the work and keeps the job site clean while we are there.
Walkthrough
We walk the finished job with you and make sure everything is right before we leave.
Egress Windows Near You
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Windows pages for your town
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Room additions, garages, decks, 3-season rooms and basement buildouts, framed and finished.
DetailsNeed Egress Windows?
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