Basement egress windows for Sioux Falls homes

How it works

1. Call or send a request

   Tell us your town and what you're trying to do with the basement.

2. We connect you

   Your call goes to an independent egress window contractor that works in the Sioux Falls area.

3. They call you back

   They look at the wall and the yard, then quote the opening, window and well directly.

Who is this for?

Homeowners in Sioux Falls, Brandon, Harrisburg, Tea, Dell Rapids and the surrounding parts of Minnehaha and Lincoln counties who want a basement room that people can safely sleep in. That usually means one of four things: finishing a basement and adding a bedroom, fixing a downstairs bedroom that was finished years ago without a proper escape window, replacing a rusted or undersized window well, or getting a basement ready before a sale.

What makes a window an egress window?

An egress window, which the building code calls an emergency escape and rescue opening, is a window big enough for someone to climb out of and for a firefighter in gear to climb in. Under the model International Residential Code, the opening has to be at least 24 inches tall and 20 inches wide when open, and the window has to open from inside without keys, tools or special knowledge. Sioux Falls' adopted code requires a net clear opening of at least 5.7 square feet (5.0 for a grade-floor opening) and puts the bottom of the opening no more than 48 inches above the floor. Most standard basement windows are nowhere close, which is why egress work usually means cutting the foundation.

Do I need one?

Every sleeping room, including one in a basement, needs its own escape opening. A basement that isn't used for sleeping may still need one when it's finished as living space, depending on the code your building office applies. If you're finishing a lower level in Sioux Falls, the city requires a building permit, and the plan reviewer will look for egress in any room shown as a bedroom. Calling a room an "office" or "den" on paper while someone sleeps in it doesn't make it safer, and it can cause problems at inspection or when the house is sold.

What does an egress project involve?

1. Choosing the spot. The contractor looks for a section of wall away from the main beam, plumbing, the electrical panel and gas lines, with room outside for a well and a path for drainage.
2. Digging outside. The yard is excavated along the wall for the window well, usually below the new sill so there's room for gravel and a drain.
3. Cutting the foundation. Poured concrete is cut with a large saw; block walls are cut and the cores filled. A header or lintel is added where the wall above needs support.
4. Setting the window. A buck or frame goes into the opening, then the window, flashing and sealant.
5. Installing the well. A steel or composite well goes in with drain rock, a connection to the foundation drain where one exists, and a ladder or steps if the well is deep.
6. Finishing. Backfill, grading, an optional cover, and interior trim or drywall returns.

See egress window installation and cutting and enlarging openings for more detail.

Why does winter matter so much here?

• Deep frost. Sioux Falls' adopted code lists a 42-inch frost line. A window well that isn't drained or backfilled properly can heave, tip toward the house or pull away from the wall.
• Snow in the well. The city averages about 45 inches of snow a year. Drifts fill uncovered wells, and melt water then sits against the window.
• Heavy snow loads. The city's design ground snow load is 55 pounds per square foot. Covers over wells in walkways need to be strong enough for the conditions, yet still open from below.
• Cold air leaks. The winter design temperature is -11°F. A big new window in a basement wall needs to be flashed, sealed and insulated around the frame so it doesn't become the coldest spot in the room.

Signs your basement bedroom needs attention

• The only window is a small slider or hopper high on the wall
• An adult can't fit through the window when it's fully open
• The well is so shallow or narrow the window can't open all the way
• The well fills with water, leaves or snow, or has rusted through
• A deep well has no ladder or steps to climb out
• A home inspector or appraiser flagged a "non-conforming" bedroom

Is a permit required?

In Sioux Falls, yes. The city lists both window replacement and lower-level finishes as projects that need a building permit, and cutting a new or bigger opening in a foundation is structural work. Contractors doing permitted work on homes inside city limits must hold a city Residential Building Contractor license. Suburbs such as Harrisburg handle permits through their own offices, and rural lots in Minnehaha County go through the county Planning and Zoning office. Your contractor should know which office covers your address and pull the permit.

Are you an egress window company?

No. Sioux Falls Egress Windows is a referral service. We connect you with an independent egress window contractor that serves your address, and that company quotes, performs and warranties the work. Before you sign anything, read our tips for hiring an egress window contractor and the Sioux Falls egress window guide.

Areas we cover

• Sioux Falls
• Brandon
• Harrisburg and Tea
• Dell Rapids

Planning ahead? Read our Sioux Falls egress window guide.