What to Expect from an Egress Window Install

An egress window is two things at once: a building-code safety requirement and one of the best upgrades a basement can get. If you're finishing a basement, renting out a basement apartment, or just want the option of natural light and a safe exit, this is the right project.

Why egress matters

Building codes in Indiana require any basement bedroom to have an egress window — a window large enough for an adult (or firefighter in full gear) to exit through in an emergency. That's the floor. The real value goes further:

• Natural light transforms how a basement feels — no more cave.
• Property value — egress basements count as livable square footage on appraisals. Non-egress basements don't.
• Resale — buyers specifically look for finished egress basements; non-egress finishes often have to be disclosed as non-conforming.
• Water protection when done right: the drainage design keeps the well from becoming a water collection point.

The install sequence

A Cornerstone install runs roughly like this:

1. Excavation — dig the well to well below the window opening. Size follows the window manufacturer's spec.

2. Saw-cut through the foundation — measured, chalked, cut with a concrete saw. Clean opening, no sledgehammer work.

3. Window and well install — window seated and flashed, steel well anchored to the foundation, ladder installed to code.

4. Drainage tie-in — this is the difference between a good install and a bad one. Well floor gets gravel bed + drain line tied to the footing drain or a sump pit. Water never pools in the well.

5. Special-order caps — we usually special-order the well cap so it fits your well exactly. Drainage, visibility, and snow/leaf protection matter.

6. Interior finish — drywall crew follows up to close up the rough opening and paint to match.

What to ask your contractor

• Where does the water go when it rains?
• Is the well properly backfilled and graded away from the foundation?
• Is the ladder to code for your jurisdiction?
• What's the warranty on the install?

Cornerstone's approach

We do these all the time, and we do them the long way — proper drainage, proper flashing, proper caps. No surprises when it rains. Free estimates, fair pricing, written scope.

Call (812) 850-5320.