Recently finishedA full basement walkout →
Catonsville, MD · Serving Central Maryland
Maryland egress windows, installed to code
A second way out of your basement, and daylight in. Egress windows, doors and full walkouts: we cut the foundation, build the exit, handle the permit and pass the inspection.
Free on-site consultation and estimate · in person or by FaceTime
$750 off Winter Safety Sale on egress windows, through Dec 31
Experience you can stand on
30 years of industry experience
Three decades of basements means we've already met your foundation: poured concrete, block or stone, wet clay or rocky fill. We know how to cut it, support it and keep it dry.
Licensed Maryland Home Improvement Contractor, on every job we do.
installed, from small bedroom wells to full walkouts.
where we file permits: six counties and Baltimore City.
The code, in four numbers
Does your basement have legal egress?
Every sleeping room needs an opening that meets all four. Many older Maryland homes have basement windows that meet none of them.
See 5.7 sq ft on your own wallSee the full Maryland requirements →
Open your basement window all the way and measure the gap you could climb through. Under 5.7 square feet, or a sill more than 44 inches up, and it doesn't count as a way out.
Interactive 3D
Explore an egress window, inside and out
Drag the model to turn it. Tap the numbers to see what code requires at each spot, or show the way out.
Built to scale: a 5.7 sq ft opening with a 40 in sill, a 36 in well, a ladder, gravel and a clear cover.
What we do
Egress work, start to finish
Egress window installation
We cut the foundation and install the window, well, ladder and drainage.
Read more →LandlordsFailed a rental inspection?
Basement bedroom flagged in Baltimore City or County? We fix it fast.
Read more →New Maryland lawBasement apartments
Every county now allows ADUs. A basement unit needs a legal way out.
Read more →PricingWhat egress costs
Projects start at $7,450. Save $750 during our Winter Safety Sale, through Dec 31.
Read more →ServiceBasement walkouts
A patio door and concrete stairwell: the easiest way out of any basement.
Read more →ServiceWindow well replacement
Rusted or too-small wells replaced, with covers, ladders and drainage.
Read more →Recent work
Every means of egress
Windows, wells and full walkouts, from Captain Egress jobs.
Wells like the one in the middle photo are usually too small to climb out of. If yours looks like that, give us a call.
Why egress
The stairway shouldn't be your only exit
Furnaces, water heaters and dryers usually sit in the basement, often near the stairs. If a fire or smoke cuts off that stairway, an egress window is the way out for your family, and the way in for firefighters.
It also changes how the space feels. A full-size window and well turn a dark basement into a room with daylight and fresh air, and a legal bedroom adds value when you sell.
“As a father of three, family safety is my number one priority.” — Founder, Captain Egress
Questions
Common questions
Do I need an egress window in my basement?
If anyone sleeps in the basement, yes. Maryland follows the International Residential Code, which requires every sleeping room to have an emergency escape opening. Even without a bedroom, a second way out matters when furnaces and water heaters sit next to the only stairway.
How long does an egress window installation take?
Most single-window jobs are finished on site in one to two days: excavation, cutting the foundation, setting the window and well, drainage and backfill. Permit timing depends on your county.
Do you pull the permit?
Yes. We handle the permit and schedule the inspection with your county so the new opening is on record as code compliant.
How do you price a project?
Send us a few photos of the space, then we meet you for a free on-site consultation. Your written quote is based on both. That's our standard process for every project.