A lot of basements around the Denver metro have a room down there people call a bedroom. Whether it actually counts as one is a different question, and the answer usually comes down to one window.
Why egress matters
Building codes generally require a basement sleeping room to have an emergency escape and rescue opening. In plain terms, if there's a fire, the person sleeping down there needs a way out that isn't the stairs. An egress window with a well outside is the most common way to provide that.
The exact rules, like window size, well dimensions and sill height, depend on your city and the code edition it enforces. That's why we confirm what applies to your home before any concrete gets cut.
Beyond the code question, it's a real safety upgrade for anyone sleeping downstairs. And it brings natural light into a space that usually has none, which honestly changes how the room feels.
Do you need one?
If you're adding a bedroom in the basement, in most cases, yes. If your basement was finished years ago and the "bedroom" never had a conforming window, a stand-alone egress install can fix that.
If the room is a home office, gym or rec room and nobody sleeps there, the conversation is different. We'll walk through it at the estimate.
How the install works
It's a pretty straightforward process:
- 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 your city before any concrete gets cut.
- Cut and install. We cut the foundation opening, set the window, and place the well outside, then backfill.
- Inspection. Your city inspects the finished install and signs off on the permit.
Cut, set, inspect. Done.
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 interior finishes around the new window can change the scope. Your free written estimate sets the actual price.
The smart move: do it with the basement finish
Most egress windows we install go in during a full basement finish. Planning the bedroom, the framing and the window as one permitted project keeps the inspection simple and the schedule tight. You're not cutting into a freshly finished wall later, and the window placement can be planned around the room layout from day one.
If you're planning a basement finish anyway, bring up the bedroom question at the first walkthrough. It's a lot easier to plan for than to add after.
Why a permitted install matters
We pull the permit on every egress window, the same way we run every basement project. A permitted, inspected bedroom is something you can stand behind when you sell. And the city's sign-off means the work was checked, not just eyeballed.
Our permit history is public record, so you can verify our work before you hire us. We're insured with $1M in liability coverage, hold an A+ BBB rating, and back our workmanship with a 2-year warranty.
Get your basement bedroom sorted
Saw Dog Construction is based in Westminster, CO, and works across the Denver metro, including Denver, Arvada, Thornton, Northglenn, Broomfield, Lakewood and Aurora. Call or text (720) 290-4077, or send the form on SawDog.net. Tell us about the room and we'll take a look.
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