Basement Egress Windows on Cape Cod
Mussato Building Group installs egress windows in basements across Cape Cod, so a lower-level bedroom has the emergency escape opening the building code requires and the room gets real daylight. We coordinate the cut in the foundation, the window well and its drainage, the interior finish around the window, and the permit. We are a family-owned general contractor founded in 2004, with more than 100 projects completed and a 5.0 rating from 21 Google reviews.
We install egress windows as part of a basement finishing or remodeling project, or on their own when a basement room needs one.
- Family-owned since 2004
- Licensed + insured in MA
- 100+ projects completed
- 5.0 stars from 21 Google reviews
- BBB accredited
What an egress window has to meet
Massachusetts follows a residential code based on the International Residential Code. An egress window needs at least 5.7 square feet of clear opening, at least 24 inches of clear height and 20 inches of clear width, and a sill no more than 44 inches above the floor. Below grade, the window well needs at least 9 square feet of area and 36 inches of projection, and a ladder or steps once it is deeper than 44 inches.
Replacing small basement windows
Most old basement windows are small hopper windows near the top of the wall, too small to climb out of. We cut the foundation down to make an opening the code accepts, set a new window, build the well outside, and finish the inside so it looks like it was always there.
- Code check of the opening, sill height, and well
- Foundation cut for the new opening
- Egress window set, flashed, and sealed
- Window well with ladder or steps where needed
- Drainage at the bottom of the well
- Interior framing, insulation, and trim around the window
- Replacement of small basement windows
- Building permit and inspection
Getting an egress window right
Clear opening, not window size
The code measures the open area you can climb through, not the size of the glass. Casement windows give the most opening for their size.
Sill height
The bottom of the opening has to be within 44 inches of the floor, which usually means cutting the foundation lower than the old window.
Window well and ladder
Below grade, the well has to be big enough to move in and needs a ladder or steps once it gets deeper than 44 inches.
Drainage at the well
A well collects rain. It needs a drain or a gravel bed, and often a cover, so water does not end up against the new window.
How it looks outside
In the Old King’s Highway district along Route 6A, a new opening visible from the street can need a historic certificate.
“Mussato Building Group has been a loyal and trusted partner of ours for over ten years and one hundred projects. Their professionalism and quality of work are second to none. We look forward to working with them far into the future.”
Our Process
Site Check
We look at the wall, the grade outside, utilities in the way, and where the window works best in the room.
Window & Permit
You get a written estimate with the window size and well. We file the building permit.
Cut & Install
The foundation is cut, the window is set and sealed, and the well and drainage go in outside.
Finish & Inspection
Inside, we frame, insulate, and trim around the window, and the town inspects the opening.
Basement Egress Windows by Town
- Basement Egress Windows in Barnstable County, MAAll 15 towns of the county
- Basement Egress Windows in Barnstable, MAHyannis, Barnstable Village, and West Barnstable
- Basement Egress Windows in Bourne, MABuzzards Bay, Sagamore, and Sagamore Beach
- Basement Egress Windows in Brewster, MAWest Brewster, Brewster Village, and East Brewster
- Basement Egress Windows in Chatham, MAChatham Village, North Chatham, and South Chatham
- Basement Egress Windows in Dennis, MADennis Village, East Dennis, and South Dennis
- Basement Egress Windows in Eastham, MAEastham and North Eastham
- Basement Egress Windows in Falmouth, MAFalmouth Village, Woods Hole, and North Falmouth
- Basement Egress Windows in Harwich, MAHarwich Center, Harwich Port, and West Harwich
- Basement Egress Windows in Mashpee, MAMashpee, New Seabury, and Popponesset
- Basement Egress Windows in Orleans, MAOrleans Village, East Orleans, and South Orleans
- Basement Egress Windows in Provincetown, MAthe West End, the East End, and the Commercial Street area
- Basement Egress Windows in Sandwich, MASandwich Village, East Sandwich, and Forestdale
- Basement Egress Windows in Truro, MATruro and North Truro
- Basement Egress Windows in Wellfleet, MAWellfleet and South Wellfleet
- Basement Egress Windows in Yarmouth, MAYarmouth Port, South Yarmouth, and West Yarmouth
Other work on Cape Cod
- Deck Builder on Cape CodNew decks, deck replacement, stairs, and railings
- Deck Replacement on Cape CodTear-out and rebuild of old, soft, or unsafe decks
- Basement Finishing on Cape CodMedia rooms, gyms, bars, guest suites, and egress windows
- Basement Remodeling on Cape CodDated or damp finished basements rebuilt from the foundation in
- Bathroom Remodeling on Cape CodTile showers, tubs, vanities, and powder rooms
- Kitchen Remodeling on Cape CodLayouts, islands, custom cabinetry, and counters
- ADU Builder on Cape CodDetached guest cottages, in-law suites, and garage conversions
Basement Egress Windows FAQ
What size does a basement egress window need to be?
Under the code Massachusetts follows, at least 5.7 square feet of clear opening, at least 24 inches of clear height and 20 inches of clear width, with the sill no more than 44 inches above the floor.
Do I need an egress window in my basement?
If the basement has a bedroom, yes: every sleeping room needs an emergency escape opening. Finished basements used as living space generally need at least one as well. We check your plan against the code before we start.
Do I need a permit for an egress window?
Yes. Cutting a foundation wall for a new opening is structural work and needs a building permit. We handle it.
Will an egress window let water into the basement?
Not if the well is built right. A drain or gravel base at the bottom of the well, proper grading around it, and a cover where it makes sense keep water away from the window.
Which towns do you install egress windows in?
All 15 towns of Barnstable County: Barnstable, Bourne, Brewster, Chatham, Dennis, Eastham, Falmouth, Harwich, Mashpee, Orleans, Provincetown, Sandwich, Truro, Wellfleet, and Yarmouth.
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