Egress Windows · Maryland
Egress
Windows
in Maryland
Maryland code requires egress windows in any basement used as a sleeping room. OBW installs to IRC 2021 specifications.
Egress window installation, replacement, and window well installation for Maryland basements. Code-compliant openings that meet IRC minimum dimensions. Every installation includes waterproofing of the new opening. Lifetime transferable guarantee.
Installs in Maryland
Safe Exit. Natural Light. Code Compliance.
What Egress Windows Actually Require
An egress window provides two things: a legal means of emergency exit from a basement bedroom, and natural light and ventilation for a habitable below-grade space. Maryland follows the International Residential Code (IRC), which sets minimum dimensions for egress openings — and most basement windows don't meet them.
Installing an egress window in an existing foundation wall is a structural job, not a window replacement. It requires cutting the foundation wall, installing a lintel to carry the load above the opening, setting the window frame, waterproofing the new opening, and installing a window well that meets the minimum clearance requirements.
OBW handles the full scope — foundation cut, waterproofing, window installation, and window well. No subcontractors.
All Services
Egress Windows
Services in Maryland
Every scope is written after a free inspection. No phone estimates, no commissioned salespeople.
Egress Window Installation
New egress window opening cut into existing foundation wall. Full structural, waterproofing, and window scope.
→Egress Window Replacement
Replace existing non-compliant or failed egress windows with IRC-compliant units.
→Window Well Installation
Steel or polycarbonate window wells with drainage to keep the egress opening clear and dry.
Warning Signs You Need Egress Work
Signs Your Basement May Have
Egress Code Issues
Maryland inspectors flag egress violations on pre-sale inspections. Address them before you list.
- Basement is used as a sleeping room but has no egress window
- Existing basement windows are too small to meet IRC net clear opening requirements
- Window well has no drainage and holds water after rain
- Existing egress window is failed, cracked, or no longer operable
- Permit was pulled for a basement bedroom but no egress was installed
Egress Window Questions
Common Questions About Egress
Windows in Maryland
Call (410) 709-7166 for questions not listed here.
What are the minimum dimensions for an egress window in Maryland?
Maryland follows IRC 2021. The minimum net clear opening is 5.7 square feet (20 inches wide × 24 inches high minimum), with a maximum sill height of 44 inches above the floor. Window wells must provide at least 9 square feet of clear area with at least 36 inches of horizontal projection. These are minimums — we recommend larger where the opening allows.
Do I need a permit for an egress window?
Yes. Cutting an opening in a foundation wall is a structural alteration that requires a building permit in Maryland. OBW pulls permits for all egress window installations. The permit triggers an inspection that confirms code compliance — important documentation when you sell the home.
Can I install an egress window in a poured concrete foundation?
Yes. It's more labor-intensive than block foundation work because poured concrete requires saw cutting and core drilling, and the lintel design is more critical. OBW has done egress installations in both block and poured concrete. The cost is higher for poured concrete but the process is the same.
Does the window well need drainage?
Yes — an unsealed well will collect water and eventually drive it back into the opening. Every OBW window well installation includes drainage connected to the foundation drainage system or to a gravel bed with adequate capacity for Maryland rainfall.
70 Years of Maryland Basements
Why Maryland Homeowners Choose
Oriole Over National Brands
Three generations of the Pirog family since 1953.
No Commissioned Salespeople
Our inspectors diagnose accurately — not sell the largest system. Honest assessment every time.
Lifetime Transferable Guarantee
Transfers to the next homeowner. National franchise warranties don't.
Maryland Soil Expertise
Piedmont clay, Bay water tables, freeze-thaw. Engineered for Maryland specifically.
Family-Owned Since 1953
Amber Pirog leads the same family company Frank Sr. founded over 70 years ago.
Free Inspection. Written Quote. No Pressure.
Three Steps to a Dry,
Sound Maryland Home
From inspection to completed work, most OBW jobs are scheduled within two to three weeks.
Free Inspection
A local OBW inspector visits, assesses the problem, and documents the scope. Free, no obligation.
Written Quote Same Day
A specific, itemized quote before any work is scheduled — not a vague range over the phone.
Work & Warranty
OBW's own crew completes the work and hands you the Lifetime Transferable Warranty before leaving.
That Basement Bedroom Needs a Legal Exit.
Free inspection. Written estimate same day. Permitted installation backed by a Lifetime Guarantee.
Family-owned since 1953 · MHIC #4247 · Lifetime Transferable Guarantee