Basement egress windows for Bismarck and Mandan homes

How it works

1. Call or send a request

   Tell us your town, the wall you want the window in, and what the room will be used for.

2. We connect you

   Your call goes to an independent egress window installer that serves Bismarck, Mandan and Lincoln.

3. They call you back

   They measure, check the code requirements and quote the job directly.

Who is this for?

Homeowners in Bismarck, Mandan, Lincoln and the surrounding towns who need a basement window big enough to escape through. That usually means one of four situations: you're finishing a basement and the permit calls for an escape opening, you want to use a basement room as a bedroom, an inspector or buyer's agent flagged a bedroom window as too small, or an existing egress well floods, fills with snow or has a cover that won't open.

What makes a window an egress window?

It's about the opening a person can actually climb through, not the size of the glass. The City of Bismarck's building inspection answers, based on the residential code North Dakota uses, set these minimums for a basement escape opening:

• Net clear opening of 5.7 square feet when the window is fully open
• Sill no more than 44 inches above the floor
• A window well of at least 9 square feet, at least 36 inches wide and 36 inches out from the wall
• A permanent ladder or steps if the well is deeper than 44 inches

The City of Bismarck lists the 2021 International Residential Code as its adopted residential code, and that code's section R310.2.1 also sets a minimum net clear height of 24 inches and a minimum net clear width of 20 inches. A window can meet one of those and still fail the area requirement, which is why a short, wide slider often won't pass while a casement of a similar size will.

Does my basement need one if there's no bedroom?

Usually, yes. Bismarck's guidance says a finished basement needs an egress window in each bedroom, and that if there are no bedrooms, one egress window must still be provided. So a family room and bathroom finish typically still needs one escape opening somewhere in the basement. Your permit reviewer has the final word for your plan.

What does an egress installation involve?

1. Layout. The installer picks a wall location that clears the main beam, plumbing, ductwork and the electrical panel inside, and the gas meter, AC unit, deck posts and property line outside.
2. Excavation. They dig a hole outside the wall for the well, deep enough to sit below the new sill.
3. Cutting. A wall saw cuts the opening in poured concrete, or block is removed and the cores are filled. A header or reinforcement goes in where the wall needs it.
4. Window and well. The window is set, sealed and trimmed, the well is anchored to the foundation, drainage rock goes in, and a ladder is added if the depth calls for one.
5. Cover and cleanup. A cover goes on if you want one, the soil is regraded to slope away, and the interior is finished.

See basement egress window installation for more detail on each step.

Why do egress windows need extra thought in Bismarck?

• Snow. Bismarck averages around 50 inches of snow a year. An uncovered well on the north side of a house can fill and drift shut, and the escape route only works if it's clear.
• Deep cold. January in Bismarck averages under 13°F. Window frames, glazing and the seal between the frame and the cut concrete all need to be done right to avoid frost and drafts.
• Varied ground. The North Dakota Geological Survey maps river-bottom silt and clay along the Missouri, glacial till on the uplands, and claystone and sandstone underneath. Digging conditions and how a well drains depend a lot on which you're standing on.
• Spring melt. Wells collect snowmelt and runoff. A well with good drainage rock, a cover, and soil graded away from it is much less likely to leak.

Which problems shouldn't wait?

• Someone is sleeping in a basement room with no window large enough to climb out of
• A well deeper than 44 inches with no ladder
• A well cover that's frozen down, bolted shut or too heavy to push open from below
• Water coming in around the window frame or through the bottom of the well
• A well that has pulled away from the foundation or is caving in
• An inspection, sale or rental move-in that depends on the window passing

When is the best time to install?

Most installers cut and dig from spring through fall, when the ground isn't frozen and the excavation can be backfilled and compacted properly. Some will work in winter with ground thawing or when a project can't wait, but it's harder and the schedule depends on the weather. If you're planning a winter basement finish, get on an installer's list in late summer or early fall so the window is in before the framing goes up.

Do I need a permit?

In Bismarck, a basement finish is on the city's list of projects that require a building permit, and the escape opening is part of that review. Cutting a new opening in a foundation wall is structural work, so call the Building Inspection Division at (701) 355-1465 if you're not sure whether your project needs its own permit. Mandan, Lincoln and Burleigh County each handle their own permits. Read the Bismarck egress window guide for the details.

Are you an egress window company?

No. Bismarck Egress Windows is a referral service. We connect you with an independent installer that serves your address, and that installer quotes, performs and stands behind the work. Before you hire anyone, read our tips for choosing an installer.

Areas we cover

• Bismarck
• Mandan
• Lincoln

Planning ahead? Read our Bismarck egress window guide.