North of 104th, Commerce City is full of newer builds. Reunion, Buffalo Run, Turnberry, Second Creek Farm and Fronterra Village all have the same punch list after a few years: finish the basement, swap out the builder-grade finishes, and figure out how to get a bedroom down there.
That last one comes down to a single window.
Why the window matters
Building codes generally require a basement sleeping room to have an emergency escape and rescue opening. Below grade, that usually means an egress window with a well outside. Without it, a room in the basement can be a great office, gym or guest space, but it doesn't count as a bedroom.
It's also a real safety upgrade. If there's ever a fire, someone sleeping downstairs needs a way out that isn't the stairs. And you get daylight in a room that usually has none, which changes how the space feels.
The exact requirements, like window size, well dimensions and sill height, depend on your city and the code edition it enforces. We confirm what applies to your home before any concrete gets cut.
How the install goes
- Free estimate. We look at the wall, the grade outside and what the room needs to conform, then give you a written, itemized estimate.
- Permit. We file and manage the permit with the City of Commerce City before any cutting happens.
- Cut and install. We cut the foundation opening, set the window, and place and backfill the well outside.
- Inspection. The city inspects the finished install and signs off.
Best time to do it
If you're finishing the basement anyway, do the egress window as part of it. Most of the egress windows we install go in during a full finish. Planning the bedroom, the framing and the window as one permitted project keeps the inspection simple and the schedule tight, and the window can be placed around the room layout from the start.
Already finished, but the bedroom never conformed? A stand-alone egress install fixes that too.
Permits in Commerce City
Commerce City sits in Adams County and issues its own building permits through the City of Commerce City. We've been through that process here before, all the way to final inspection, and the record of it is already on the books. On your project, filing and managing the permit is part of our job, and the project isn't done until the city says it is.
What it costs
A from-scratch egress window runs $7,000. That covers cutting the opening, the window and the well. It's a planning number, not a quote. Things like the grade outside, utilities near the opening and the interior finishes around the new window can change the scope, and your free written estimate sets the actual price.
South of 104th too
We work the whole city, Reunion to River Run. The older south side tends to call for different work, like kitchens, baths and flooring in houses that have been standing a while. That work gets the same permits, crew and warranty as the new-build side of town.
About us
Saw Dog Construction is a licensed and insured general contractor based in Westminster, CO, serving Commerce City and the rest of the Denver metro since 2015. We carry $1M in liability insurance, hold an A+ BBB rating, and back our work with a 2-year workmanship warranty. Our Commerce City permit history is public record, so you can check it before you call.
Get started
Call or text (720) 290-4077, or send the form on SawDog.net. Tell us which room you want to turn into a bedroom, and we'll come look at the wall and the grade outside.