Egress Window Before and After: Real Denver Projects and What They Cost

Why "Before and After" Matters More Than a Price List

When you search for "egress window before and after Denver," you aren't just looking for pretty pictures. You are trying to answer a critical question: What will my dark, cramped basement actually look like when this is done—and how much will it hurt my wallet?

At Affordable Egress Co., we have been cutting concrete and installing life-saving exits since 1999. Over two decades on the Front Range, we have seen every basement scenario: 1950s brick crawl spaces, 1970s poured concrete with rebar, and modern walkouts with high water tables. This article walks you through three realistic Denver projects—including the gritty details of soil, code, and cost—so you know exactly what to expect before you call for your free estimate.

Project #1: The Standard Denver Brick Bungalow (Washington Park)

The Problem: A 1928 brick bungalow with a 7-foot ceiling and a window well that was only 12 inches deep. The existing window was 24" x 18"—barely large enough for a cat, let alone a person. The homeowner needed a legal bedroom for a growing family.

The Before: Dark, musty, and technically a fire hazard. The window well collected leaves and rainwater, seeping into the foundation corner.

The After: We cut a 36" x 48" window opening into the 8-inch poured concrete foundation. The new well is a 44" deep galvanized steel model with a 5-foot-wide footprint—giving you room to actually climb out. The basement now floods with natural light, and the room passed Denver's egress inspection on the first try.

What It Cost: This is your "typical" install. Because the concrete was standard (no rebar surprises) and the soil was a manageable clay-loam mix, the total ran $4,800 including the window, well, gravel backfill, and cleanup. This price did not include drywall repair, which the homeowner handled himself.

Local Context: Denver's soil is mostly expansive clay. That means we always dig the well slightly wider than the window and backfill with 3/4" clean gravel—never sand—to prevent hydrostatic pressure from cracking your foundation during a wet spring.

Project #2: The "Rocky" Install in Golden (Foothills Soil)

The Problem: A 1995 home in Golden with a finished basement. The homeowner wanted to convert an office into a legal guest bedroom. The catch? The house sits on a slope with decomposed granite and sandstone boulders just 2 feet below the surface.

The Before: A small slider window that faced a hillside. You couldn't even open it fully due to the grade.

The After: This was a two-day job, but our team managed to complete it in one long day using a hydraulic breaker and a mini-excavator. We installed a 44" x 40" aluminum window with a bilco-style steel well. The after-photos show a clean, bright bedroom with a view of the foothills—something the homeowner never thought possible.

What It Cost: The rock required extra labor and a specialty concrete bit. Final invoice: $6,200. This included hauling away 3 tons of rock and soil.

Local Context: If you live west of I-25 (Lakewood, Golden, Morrison), assume your soil is not "normal." We always recommend a site visit before quoting, because the price difference between clay and rock is significant. Don't trust a phone quote from a company that hasn't looked at your dirt.

Project #3: The High Water Table Fix (Aurora / Southeast Metro)

The Problem: A 2004 home in Aurora near the Highline Canal. The basement had a window well that was constantly filling with groundwater. The homeowner tried a plastic well cover, but it just trapped humidity and caused mold on the drywall.

The Before: A rusted, corrugated metal well with standing water. The window itself was leaking air and water.

The After: We replaced the window with a vinyl egress unit and, more importantly, installed a drainage system at the base of the new well. We used a 4-inch perforated pipe connected to a sump pump crock, and backfilled with washed stone. The after-result is a bone-dry well, even after a 2-inch rainstorm.

What It Cost: This was a replacement, not a new cut. The cost was $3,400 for the window, well, drainage, and labor. The sump pump connection was an additional $700, but the homeowner already had a pump pit.

Local Context: The Front Range has seen increasingly intense "monsoon" events in July and August. If your basement is below grade, you need a well that drains away from the foundation, not just a hole in the ground. We always check your grading and gutter downspouts during the estimate.

What Every Denver Homeowner Should Know Before Hiring

You have seen the "before and after." Now here is the "before and before"—the stuff you need to know before you sign a contract.

• Code is non-negotiable: The International Residential Code (IRC) requires a clear opening of at least 5.7 square feet, a minimum width of 20 inches, and a height of 24 inches. The sill height cannot be more than 44 inches from the finished floor. We handle the permit and inspection with your local jurisdiction (Denver, Adams, Arapahoe, Jefferson, Douglas counties).
• Concrete cutting is messy: Even with dust containment, expect some dust. We use a wet-cut saw when possible to minimize airborne silica. Ask your contractor about their dust control plan.
• Window wells need depth: For a 44-inch-high window, you need a well that is at least 36 inches deep (measured from the top of the window to the top of the well). Many older homes have wells that are too shallow—we will point that out if it applies to you.
• Cost variance: In the Denver metro, expect to pay between $3,500 and $7,500 for a complete egress installation. The variables are: concrete thickness, rebar presence, soil type, and whether you need a new window well or just a window swap.

Why "Single Day" Matters for Your Family

Most of our installs—over 90%—are completed in one day. That is not a marketing gimmick; it is a result of having dedicated crews that cut concrete and install wells in-house. We do not subcontract. So, what does that mean for you?

It means you are not living with a hole in your wall for a week. It means the crew arrives at 7:00 AM with a dump trailer, and by 4:00 PM, the concrete is patched, the window is sealed, and the well is backfilled. We clean up the debris and walk you through the new window operation. The only thing left for you is to decide what furniture goes in your new bright bedroom.

We also offer a free, no-obligation estimate—not a "we'll send you a quote via email" estimate. A real human comes out, measures your opening, checks your soil, and gives you a fixed price on the spot.

Seeing is believing, but knowing the cost is what makes the decision easy. If you are in the Denver metro or along the Front Range, and you are tired of a basement that feels like a cave, let us show you what a proper egress window looks like in your home. We have the photos, the references, and the 25 years of local experience to get it right the first time.

Give Affordable Egress Co. a call today to schedule your free estimate. Let's turn that dark corner into your favorite room in the house.