Egress Window Installation — Rock Island, Illinois

Project summary

Behncke Construction installed an egress window at a home in Rock Island, Illinois, adding a safe, code-compliant exit from the basement. The window well was hand-dug to protect the property’s utilities, sprinkler lines, landscaping and lawn.

What we did

Because the well was dug by hand rather than with heavy equipment, the crew was able to work around the home’s utilities, sprinkler lines and landscaping and keep the lawn intact. As part of the installation the sump discharge was rerouted and a code-compliant egress opening was added.

What homeowners should know

An egress window does two jobs: it provides a legal, code-required emergency exit from a basement bedroom or finished space, and it brings in natural light and ventilation. Building codes generally require an egress window in any basement bedroom. In many cases the trade-off homeowners weigh is how the well is excavated — hand-digging takes more care but protects existing landscaping, utilities and irrigation that machine excavation can disturb. Coordinating the window well with drainage, such as the sump discharge, helps keep the new well from collecting water.