An egress window is code-required on any below-grade bedroom in Pennsylvania and it is the gating item that lets you finish a basement as living space. The code is specific: minimum 5.7 square foot opening, minimum 20 inch width, minimum 24 inch height, sill no more than 44 inches off the finished floor, and if the window sits below grade, a well with a ladder or step and a usable cover. Most Pocono basement bedroom conversions fail inspection on the opening area because contractors install the standard 32 by 36 inch replacement window and assume it qualifies. It does not. We size every opening to clear 5.7 square feet with the sash fully opened, not the rough opening.
The wall cut is where the real work lives. On a poured concrete foundation we saw-cut with a diamond blade on a gas wet-saw, drop the cut block out in one piece, then pin a new pressure-treated bock and rough opening into the remaining wall with Simpson concrete anchors and a Hilti epoxy. On a block foundation we remove full courses of block, install a steel lintel across the top of the opening, and parge the exposed block cores so the window flashing sits on a clean surface. Pocono homes built 1960s to 1980s often have 10-inch block walls which make the cut straightforward. Older East Stroudsburg homes around Dansbury with cut stone or rubble foundations are a different job and we quote those separately after a look at the actual wall.
The well outside the window matters as much as the window. We dig the well 6 inches below the sill for drainage, line it with a galvanized steel or composite well liner anchored to the wall with 3/8 inch sleeve bolts, drop 12 inches of 3/4 washed stone in the bottom tied to the perimeter footer drain so snowmelt runs away, install an integrated step or steel ladder on wells over 44 inches deep, then cap with a clear polycarbonate cover that locks from inside. The cover matters in the Poconos because a well without a cover fills with snow, leaves, and animals. A proper cover with weepholes lets light through and keeps the well dry.
The mistake we see most from cheap contractors here is installing an egress window without tying the well drain into an existing perimeter drain or sump system. That turns the well into a 3-foot-deep bucket that fills with snowmelt every spring and dumps directly against the new window. Within 2 winters the flashing fails and the finished basement bedroom has water running down the wall. Every well we install gets its own stone bed tied to a drain line, either to the interior sump or to daylight on hillside homes. Permits, rough inspection, and final inspection are included in the price. We do not leave you chasing the Monroe County building office.
What we handle
Full Egress Window and Well Install
Code-compliant 5.7 square foot window, galvanized or composite well, drainage stone to perimeter drain, polycarbonate cover, Monroe County permit included.
Bedroom Conversion Window Package
Egress install sized and spaced for a basement bedroom conversion with smoke detector and finish work coordination so you pass the final living-space inspection.
Window Well Replacement
Swap out a rusted or crushed galvanized well for a composite or heavy-gauge steel liner, new stone bed, and polycarbonate cover with weepholes.
Emergency Leaking Window Well Repair
Same-day call for a basement bedroom window that is actively leaking during snowmelt. We pump the well, find the cause, and quote the permanent fix on the same visit.
Window Well Drain Tie-In
Standalone retrofit that ties an existing dry well to the perimeter drain or sump system. Prevents the well from filling with snowmelt and dumping against the window flashing.
Polycarbonate Well Cover Install
Clear, UV-stable polycarbonate cover with weepholes and interior release latch, keeps snow and debris out while meeting the code requirement for egress from inside.
How the job goes
1. On-Site Measure and Code Review
We measure the wall, verify depth to grade, check the floor-to-sill height against code, and identify the foundation type. 30-minute visit with a written scope on the spot.
2. Permit Pull
We pull the Monroe County mechanical and building permits, usually 3 to 7 business days. You do not chase paperwork or show up at the township office.
3. Wall Cut and Rough Opening
Diamond wet-saw cut on poured walls, full block removal on block walls, steel lintel set above the opening, rough opening framed and waterproofed.
4. Window and Well Install
Window set plumb and flashed, well liner anchored to the wall, 12 inches of stone in the bottom tied to the drain, interior finish trim installed.
5. Cover and Final Inspection
Polycarbonate cover installed with interior release, final Monroe County inspection scheduled and attended. You get the permit close-out paperwork before we leave.
What's included
- Full code review against Pennsylvania residential code 5.7 square foot minimum
- Monroe County permit pull and inspection attendance
- Diamond wet-saw cut on poured walls or full block removal on block walls
- Steel lintel across the top of the opening on block walls
- Vinyl, aluminum, or wood casement or slider window, Low-E double pane
- Galvanized or composite well liner anchored with sleeve bolts
- 12 inches of 3/4 washed stone tied to perimeter drain or dry well
- Clear polycarbonate cover with weepholes and interior release latch
- Interior trim and drywall return around the new opening
- Written workmanship warranty
What it costs
Egress window installation in East Stroudsburg runs $3,500 to $7,000 installed. Monroe County permit and inspection included.
| Job | Typical price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Full Egress Window and Well | $3,500, $7,000 | Poured wall at the low end. Block wall needing lintel plus deeper well with ladder at the top end. |
| Window Well Replacement Only | $1,200, $2,800 | Composite liner costs more than galvanized but lasts longer against Pocono snowmelt. |
| Well Drain Tie-In Retrofit | $900, $2,200 | Routes well drainage to interior sump or exterior daylight, length of run drives the price. |
| Polycarbonate Cover Only | $350, $750 | Custom-fit, UV-stable, with interior release latch for code compliance. |
| Free Measure and Written Scope | Free | On-site code review, foundation type ID, and written quote with permit cost included. |
Ranges are typical for Egress Window Installation jobs in East Stroudsburg and confirmed with an exact written quote before any work starts.