Egress Window Installation in Maryland
A properly installed egress window adds natural light, a legal emergency exit, and real square footage value to your basement — when it's done right. Oriole has been cutting, framing, and waterproofing egress windows in Maryland basements since 1953.
Get a Free Inspection (443) 855-5600What Makes a Code-Compliant Egress Window?
Maryland building codes require egress windows in habitable basement spaces to meet minimum opening dimensions: at least 5.7 square feet of net clear opening (5.0 sq ft at grade), a minimum 24-inch clear height, and a minimum 20-inch clear width. The sill height cannot exceed 44 inches from the finished floor. Getting any of these measurements wrong means a failed inspection and a window that has to come out.
Every Oriole installation begins with a site assessment: we verify the foundation wall thickness, identify rebar and utilities before cutting, confirm the exterior grade and drainage conditions, and size the window well to Maryland IRC standards. No shortcuts, no guesswork.
Our Installation Process
We start by marking and saw-cutting the foundation opening — typically through 8 to 12 inches of poured concrete or block. We remove the core carefully, frame the opening with pressure-treated lumber rated for ground contact, and flash all four sides with waterproof membrane before the window goes in. The window frame itself is sealed with butyl tape and caulk, and the interior is finished with a moisture-resistant drywall buck. Finally, we install the window well, connect it to your existing drainage system or add a dedicated well drain, and backfill with clean stone.
The result is a dry, code-compliant opening that won't leak even during Maryland's heavy spring rains or when the ground is saturated with snowmelt.
Why Waterproofing Matters at the Opening
An egress window cut through a foundation wall creates a new penetration point. Any installer who doesn't treat the framing and window perimeter as a waterproofing problem — not just a carpentry problem — is leaving you exposed. Maryland clay soils hold moisture and push hydrostatic pressure directly against foundation walls. We use the same waterproofing principles we'd apply to a wall crack repair: membrane, drainage plane, and a clear path for water to escape rather than accumulate.
Signs Your Basement Needs an Egress Window
Your basement may need egress window installation if any of the following apply:
- You want to convert the basement into a legal bedroom or rentable space
- Your current basement windows are glass block or too small to exit through in an emergency
- You're adding a bathroom or living area that requires a secondary exit per code
- You want more natural light without adding a full walkout or bulkhead
- A home inspector flagged the basement as non-habitable due to egress deficiencies
Egress Window vs. Glass Block: What to Know
Many older Maryland homes — especially in Baltimore City rowhouses and 1960s-era split-levels — have glass block windows. Glass block looks clean and provides some privacy, but it cannot serve as an egress exit and doesn't meet code for habitable space. If your home has glass block and you're finishing the basement, egress window installation is required before occupancy.
We can remove existing glass block, cut the opening to proper size, and install a code-compliant casement or double-hung egress window in a single crew visit.
Trusted in Maryland for Over 70 Years
Oriole Basement Waterproofing has been working in Maryland foundations since Frank Pirog Sr. opened the company in 1953. Three generations later, we still run our own crews — no subcontractors — and every egress window installation comes with our lifetime transferable guarantee. You're not signing a contract with a call center. You're hiring the same family that's been digging in Maryland basements since the Eisenhower administration.
We are licensed under MHIC #4247 and pull all required permits. The permit protects you — it ensures a municipal inspector signs off on the work, which matters when you sell or refinance.
Ready to Add an Egress Window?
We'll assess your foundation wall, confirm the code requirements for your specific municipality, and give you a clear price. No commissioned salespeople. No pressure.
Family-owned since 1953. MHIC #4247. Lifetime transferable guarantee.
Schedule a Free Assessment (443) 855-5600