Made in Ontario
The egress window is a code-compliant escape window that lets a person climb out of a basement or bedroom in case of an emergency. To meet Ontario Building Code egress requirements, the window must give an unobstructed clear opening of 0.35 m² (3.77 sq ft), with no dimension less than 380 mm (15″), a maximum sill height of 1.5 m from the floor, and easy operation from the inside without tools or special knowledge. Total Home builds and installs egress-compliant vinyl windows and aluminum windows across Toronto and the GTA, including the cut-out, foundation work, and window well opening.
We’ll walk you through real numbers
By submitting this form, you agree to our Terms and Conditions
Every escape window in a basement bedroom or finished basement must satisfy five rules from the National Building Code of Canada and the Ontario Building Code. These rules exist so that a person can escape, and so that a firefighter in full gear can enter, in case of an emergency.
| Egress Requirement | Minimum Specification |
|---|---|
| Minimum area (clear opening) | 0.35 m² / 3.77 sq ft |
| Smallest dimension (width or height) | No less than 380 mm (15") |
| Maximum sill height from floor level | 1.5 m (5 ft) |
| Window well clearance in front of sash | 550 mm (21.7") |
| Operation | Openable without special tools or special knowledge |
If the sill sits higher than 1.5 m above the floor level, the room needs a fixed step or ladder. The window sash must not restrict escape if it swings into the well, and the path must lead directly to the outside without an exterior door, gate, or grille that locks from the outside.
A safe and accessible exit from every bedroom and from the basement is the first reason building codes require these windows. Smoke fills a stairwell quickly, so a second route out of the room saves lives.
There are three more reasons most homeowners install one:
Renting out a basement in Ontario is only legal once the unit meets egress compliance. A correctly sized escape window is usually the deciding factor.
A wider opening at the floor level brings daylight into rooms that would otherwise feel like a cave.
A finished basement with a code-compliant escape window adds usable square footage that an appraiser can count.
Not every standard window can pass as an egress window. The sash needs to clear the right opening once it’s open, and it must do so without restrict escape from anyone inside. We offer a few proven styles, all in vinyl or aluminum frames:
hinged on the side, swing fully outward on a crank. The whole sash moves out of the way, so you get the largest clear opening for the smallest frame size. The most efficient option when space is tight.
also called slider windows or double hung windows when stacked vertically. Easy to operate, but only half the frame opens, so the rough opening must be roughly twice the size of the required opening.
hinged at the top. Usually too short on the vertical dimension to meet egress on their own, but they pair well as part of a larger combined unit.
hinged at the bottom and tilt inward. Common in basements, but the sash swings into the room and may eat into the floor space you need to climb through.
these turn windows operate two ways: tilt for ventilation, full swing for emergency exit. A strong choice when you want one window doing both daily and emergency duty.
For most basement conversions in the GTA, casement windows are our default recommendation. The sash swings clear of the opening, the multi-point lock holds tight against air infiltration, and you don’t need an oversized rough opening just to clear code.
A window well is the lined pit dug against the foundation in front of a basement egress window. It holds back soil, prevents collapse, and gives the person climbing out somewhere to stand. Building codes treat the well as part of the egress system, not an accessory.
A compliant window well opening must:
Window well covers are allowed, but they must open from inside the well without special tools and without additional support from an adult outside.
The clear opening is the empty space the human body actually passes through, measured with the sash fully open. It is not the rough opening, and it is not the glass size. This is where many standard windows fail egress compliance even when the frame looks big enough.
Here is how a few sash configurations measure up against the 3.77 sq ft minimum:
| Configuration | Frame Width × Height | Clear Opening | Egress Compliant? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Casement, single sash | 760 × 1220 mm | ~0.78 m² | Yes |
| Slider, two-lite | 1220 × 760 mm | ~0.42 m² | Borderline — verify |
| Slider, two-lite | 900 × 600 mm | ~0.27 m² | No |
| Hopper, single sash | 1200 × 600 mm | ~0.65 m² | Yes |
| Single hung | 760 × 1500 mm | ~0.55 m² | Yes |
Always confirm the clear opening with the manufacturer’s spec sheet before ordering. A 380 mm minimum on either side is non-negotiable, even if the total area looks fine on paper.
Most homes built before the current codes have basement windows that are too small. Converting them is more involved than a like-for-like window replacement. The wall is load-bearing, the cut-out passes through poured concrete or block, and the new opening needs a steel lintel above it for additional support.
The whole project usually takes one to two days on site once the permit is issued. We pull permits in our name, so you don’t chase the local building department.
Permit application with the local building department
Engineering review for the lintel and any structural changes
Concrete saw cutting and foundation work
New window opening framing and waterproofing
Vinyl or aluminum window supply and install
Window well excavation, liner, and gravel drainage
Interior trim, exterior caulking, and final inspection
Our installer, Vitaliy notes: “Most cut-out failures we get called to fix were done by general contractors with no experience working on load-bearing walls. We avoid that by training our crews on engineering basics first.”
Pricing depends on whether the existing rough opening is large enough, the foundation type, and the window style. Below are the average ranges we see across the GTA.
| Service | Average Price Range |
|---|---|
| Egress window replacement (existing opening) | $1,500 – $4,000 |
| New window cut-out in foundation | $700 – $900 |
| Window enlargement | $700 – $900 |
| Window well construction | $1,500 – $2,500 |
A full basement egress project — cut-out, window, and well — usually lands between $4,000 and $7,000 installed. See the full window replacement cost breakdown for more pricing detail.
A bigger basement window means more heat loss if the glass and frame are not specified for our climate. Every Total Home egress window is ENERGY STAR™ certified for Climate Zone 2, which covers all of southern Ontario.
Standard build includes:
Double-pane or triple-pane sealed unit with argon gas fill
Low-E coating tuned for the basement orientation
uPVC frames with multi-chamber thermal breaks
Total Seal multi-point lock that blocks air infiltration at the corners
Foam-insulated frame core for the coldest installs
The result is a U-value low enough to keep frost off the glass even during a Toronto cold snap, plus rebate eligibility through the Home Renovation Savings program.
We see the same handful of issues on basement egress jobs across the GTA. Here are the ones worth flagging before the project starts:
Vice President of Sales
Vice President of Sales
With over a decade of experience in the industry, we have honed our craft to deliver exceptional products and services. Our team's expertise ensures that every installation is executed with precision, resulting in windows and doors that perform flawlessly and enhance the overall comfort of your home.
Total Home has been manufacturing windows in Vaughan since 2007. We run a 60,000 sq ft facility, produce around 17,000 windows a year, and have completed work for more than 28,000 homeowners across central and southern Ontario. Egress conversions are one of our most-requested services because we own the whole chain — manufacture, cut-out, install, and window well — under one warranty.
What that means on your project:
One crew, one point of contact, one lifetime warranty on the window
Roto multi-point hardware on every operating sash
Cardinal Glass sealed units with the gas fill rated for our winters
ENERGY STAR™ certified product list, eligible for current Ontario rebates
No. The window must give an unobstructed clear opening of at least 0.35 m² (3.77 sq ft), with no dimension less than 380 mm. The sill must be no higher than 1.5 m from the floor, and the sash has to open from the inside without special tools.
The Ontario Building Code requires a minimum area of 0.35 m² (3.77 sq ft) of clear opening, with both width and height measuring at least 380 mm (15″). The sill must sit no more than 1.5 m above the floor level, and the window well in front needs at least 550 mm of clearance.
Yes. Every bedroom in a Canadian home, whether on the second floor or in the basement, needs a window that meets egress requirements. The only exception is when the bedroom has direct access to an exterior door that leads outside.
A full basement conversion in the GTA typically runs $4,000 to $7,000. That covers the new window cut-out, the vinyl or aluminum window itself, and a code-compliant window well with proper drainage. Pricing varies with foundation type and access.
There is nothing in the building code that stops a homeowner from doing the work. In practice, the cut passes through structural concrete, needs a steel lintel above it, and has to pass a city inspection. Most homeowners hire a contractor because the foundation work, drainage, and permit handling carry real consequences when they go wrong.
A cover is optional in Ontario, but if you fit one it must open from inside the well without special tools and without help from someone outside. Locked grates and bolted-down lids fail egress compliance.
Once the permit is issued, the on-site work usually takes one to two days for a single basement window with a new well. The permit and engineering review add one to three weeks before that.
Proudly serving homeowners across the GTA and Southern Ontario.
Read our expert articles on choosing, installing, and maintaining the perfect windows for your home.
Looks better. Costs the same
By submitting this form, you agree to our Terms and Conditions
By submitting this form, you agree to our Terms and Conditions
