Egress Window Installation in Louisville, KY

When you actually need a basement egress window

Kentucky only requires an emergency escape opening in sleeping rooms, not in the rest of the basement. So the key question is whether anyone will sleep in the space.

Louisville Metro says a basement bedroom needs its own emergency exit, like an egress window with a window well or a door straight outside, even when the basement is open to the rest of the house. If you are finishing a room that will have a bed in it, an egress window is part of making that room legal.

If the space is a family room, a home office, or a gym, the egress requirement does not automatically apply. Confirm the specifics on the permit before work starts.

Kentucky's size requirements

The Kentucky Residential Code sets minimum dimensions for a below-grade egress window:

• At least 5 square feet of clear opening
• At least 24 inches of clear height
• At least 20 inches of clear width
• Sill no higher than 44 inches above the finished floor

The window well has its own requirements too. It must be at least 9 square feet in area, extend at least 36 inches out from the wall, and be at least 36 inches wide. If the well is deeper than 44 inches, it needs a permanent ladder or steps built into it.

These are minimums. A contractor may recommend going larger for light, comfort, and resale value, but the code sets the floor.

What the job generally involves

Cutting a new egress window opening in a foundation wall is not a small project. A contractor will typically:

• Cut through the foundation wall (concrete block or poured concrete) to create the rough opening
• Install a structural header above the opening to carry the load the wall was handling
• Set the window unit and seal it against water intrusion
• Excavate outside to install the window well and add drainage at the bottom of the well so water does not pool there

The drainage at the well matters. A well that collects water becomes a direct path into the basement.

Before any digging outside, call 811 at least two full business days ahead. It is free and required, even for homeowners.

Permits in Louisville Metro

Louisville Metro's own basement guide says new openings in walls need a building permit. That applies to egress window cuts. Only licensed contractors or the property owner can pull the permit, and permitted jobs post a royal-blue placard on the outside of the property.

If your home is in Jeffersontown, permits go through the City of Jeffersontown's building department, not Louisville Metro.

Louisville Metro Construction Review: (502) 574-3321.

What affects the cost

A contractor will look at several things when pricing an egress window job:

• What the foundation wall is made of (poured concrete or block)
• How deep the window well needs to be
• Soil conditions and how much excavation is involved
• Whether the well needs a ladder
• The window unit itself and how it is finished on the interior

Choosing a contractor

Louisville Metro requires contractors to be licensed locally with proof of liability insurance. Get more than one written estimate, ask each contractor to explain what is included, and get the full scope in a written contract before work starts. Do not pay the full amount up front.

Frequently asked questions