Egress Window Installation in Sioux Falls, SD

Why Egress Windows Matter

An egress window is the difference between a finished basement room and a legal finished basement bedroom. Without one, you can't legally call the room a bedroom — which means it doesn't count toward your home's bedroom count when you sell, and it's not safe to use as a bedroom in a fire emergency.

Egress windows also flood your basement with natural light, which most homeowners say is the single biggest visual upgrade they've made.

Code Requirements (Sioux Falls / IRC R310)

• Minimum opening height: 24 inches
• Minimum opening width: 20 inches
• Minimum net clear opening: 5.7 square feet (5 sq ft for grade-floor openings)
• Maximum sill height above floor: 44 inches
• Window well requirements: minimum 9 sq ft floor area, 36-inch projection, ladder or steps if more than 44 inches deep

Our Process

1. Free assessment. We confirm the window will meet code in your specific basement, identify the best location, and check for utilities, beams, or framing in the way.
2. Permit pulled with the City of Sioux Falls (we handle this for you).
3. Foundation cut. A diamond-blade concrete saw cuts the rough opening cleanly. We use a saw cart system that minimizes vibration and dust.
4. Framing & window install. Pressure-treated buck, properly flashed sill, vinyl casement or sliding window installed.
5. Window well excavation. Steel or composite window well set on a gravel base for drainage; tied to a drain that ports into your foundation drain or daylights to grade.
6. Flashing & sealing. Cap flashing, sealants, and proper grading to keep water out — this is where most cheap installs fail.
7. Cover. A clear polycarbonate window well cover keeps debris, snow, and curious kids out while letting light in.

Window Well Drainage — Where Most Installations Fail

The single biggest cause of leaks around egress windows is improperly drained window wells. A well that fills with rain or snowmelt becomes a swimming pool right at the level of your new window — and it leaks through every seam.

We always:

• Set the well on a 6-12 inch gravel base
• Run a drain at the bottom of the well into your existing perimeter drain (or daylight if grade allows)
• Slope the surrounding grade away from the well
• Install a cover

Egress Window Cost in Sioux Falls

• Standard egress window installation (vinyl casement, steel well, foundation cut, permit): $4,500-$7,500.
• Premium options (composite well, decorative stone surround, larger window): $7,500-$12,000+.

Pricing varies with foundation thickness (block vs. poured, depth) and how much excavation is required.

Frequently Asked Questions