Basement egress windows in La Crosse

How it works

1. Call or send a request

   Tell us your town and what you're trying to do with the basement.

2. We connect you

   Your call goes to an independent egress window or foundation cutting company that serves La Crosse County and La Crescent.

3. They call you back

   They measure, explain the permit, and quote the job directly.

Who is this for?

Homeowners, landlords and buyers in La Crosse, Onalaska, Holmen, West Salem, French Island and the surrounding towns, plus La Crescent across the river in Minnesota. Most houses here sit over a full basement, and plenty of them have a rec room, a spare room or a "bedroom" downstairs with nothing but a small hopper window near the ceiling. If you want that room to be a legal place to sleep, or you just want a real way out in a fire, this site is for you.

What is an egress window, and when do you need one?

An egress window is a window big enough, and low enough, for a person to climb out of and for a firefighter to climb in through. In Wisconsin, the Uniform Dwelling Code says a basement used for sleeping needs at least two exits. The stairs are usually one. An egress window in each basement bedroom can serve as the second. Minnesota's rules are similar in purpose but stricter on size, which matters if you live in La Crescent.

The most common reasons people in the La Crosse area call an installer:

• Finishing a basement. Adding a bedroom, guest room or a teenager's room downstairs.
• Rentals. Houses near UW-La Crosse, Viterbo and Western Technical College are often rented by the room, and basement rooms need a legal exit to be used for sleeping.
• Buying or selling. An appraiser or home inspector may point out that a basement room listed as a bedroom has no egress.
• Safety. Some homeowners simply want a second way out of a finished basement where people spend time.

What does Wisconsin require for a basement egress window?

In short: a clear opening of at least 20 by 24 inches, a bottom edge no more than 60 inches above the floor, and a well at least 36 inches out from the wall if the window is below grade. Above 46 inches, you need a permanent platform under the window. In a well deeper than 46 inches, you need a ladder or step. The window must open from inside without tools. The full list, with code sections, is in the La Crosse egress window guide.

What signs mean a basement window won't count as an exit?

• A short, wide window set high in the wall, where you'd need a chair to reach it
• A sliding or hopper sash that only opens partway, leaving a gap you couldn't squeeze through
• A shallow steel well that sits right up against the glass
• Bars, grates or a heavy cover you can't release from inside
• A window blocked by a deck, porch, air conditioner or tight side-yard fence
• Glass block or a fixed pane where a window used to open

How does an egress window get installed?

On most La Crosse basements, the job looks like this:

1. Pick the spot. The installer looks for a wall section clear of the gas meter, plumbing vents, electrical service and the property line, with room outside for the well.
2. Dig the well pit. After the utility locate, the soil is dug out down past the new sill. Much of the La Crosse valley floor is sand, which digs easily but needs shoring and care near the footing.
3. Cut the wall. Poured concrete is cut with a large saw. Block walls are cut and the open cores are filled or capped. A header or lintel goes in where the opening is wider than the old window. Foundation cutting.
4. Set the window. A casement or sliding egress window is installed in a treated or vinyl buck and sealed against water.
5. Build the well. A steel, composite or rock-terrace well goes in with a drain or gravel base, a ladder or steps if it's deep, and grading that slopes away. Egress window wells.
6. Finish and inspect. Inside trim and drywall returns, a cover if you want one, and the inspections required by your city or village.

Does the climate here change anything?

Yes, in a few ways. La Crosse averages about 46 inches of snow a year, and January lows average around 10°F. A deep well against the house collects drifting snow, leaves and meltwater, so drainage and a good well cover matter more here than in milder places. Most outside digging is easiest between thaw and freeze-up, but many installers work through the winter when the ground allows, and inside work can happen any time.

What about old foundations near downtown?

Older neighborhoods in La Crosse, such as the Cass and King area, Washburn and the Northside, have homes on stone, brick or early block foundations. Cutting a large opening in those walls takes more planning than cutting a modern poured wall, and some installers will recommend an engineer's review or a different location. Homes built before 1978 also trigger Wisconsin's lead-safe renovation rules when the work involves windows.

What should I have ready before I call?

Know which room you want the window in, roughly how far the floor is below the ground outside, whether the wall is poured, block or stone, and whether the basement is finished. A few photos of the wall from inside and outside help. If an inspector, appraiser or buyer's inspector wrote something down, have that handy too. See basement bedroom code help if you're not sure what you need.

Are you an egress window company?

No. La Crosse Egress Windows is a referral service. We connect you with an independent installer who serves your address, and that company measures, quotes, pulls the permit, does the work and stands behind it. Before you sign anything, read our tips for hiring an egress window contractor.

Areas we cover

• La Crosse
• Onalaska
• Holmen
• La Crescent

Planning ahead? Read our La Crosse egress window guide.