An egress window installation and a window well installation are not competing options. One is a full legal exit system that requires the other: an egress window installation runs $4,500–$8,000 in Toronto and includes cutting the foundation opening, installing a code-compliant window, and building the well, while a window well installation alone runs $800–$2,500 and only makes sense when the window already meets Ontario Building Code 9.9.10.1 exit requirements. Here's how they compare on cost, durability, upkeep, and looks, and which one your basement actually needs.
What's the Difference?
The confusion is understandable because the two jobs overlap. A window well is the corrugated steel, aluminum, or concrete structure that wraps the outside of a below-grade window. It holds back soil, directs water away from the foundation, and gives the window room to open fully. An egress window installation is the complete package: cutting or enlarging the foundation opening, installing an OBC-compliant window (minimum 0.35 m² opening area, 380 mm minimum width, 450 mm minimum height, sill no higher than 1,000 mm above the floor), and building the window well to match.
You can install a window well without touching the window, that's a repair or drainage upgrade. You cannot install a legal egress window without a window well. If your basement has an old hopper window that's too small to escape through, a new well alone won't fix it. The window itself must be replaced and the opening enlarged.
What's Included in Egress Window Installation
A full egress window installation from Egress Window Pros Toronto includes:
- Foundation cutting and removal, concrete sawing, jackhammering, and clean removal of the cut section (typically 36–48 inches wide, depending on the window size)
- Window supply and installation, a new, OBC 9.9.10.1-compliant window, sized to your opening, with proper shimming, flashing, and sealing
- Window well construction, a galvanized steel or aluminum well sized so the window opens fully (minimum 550 mm of clearance in front of the window per code)
- Drainage layer, 4-inch perforated pipe connected to your footing drain or a sump pit, plus 3/4-inch clear stone backfill
- Backfill and grading, compacted soil sloped away from the foundation
- Interior finishing, rough opening framing, insulation, and vapour barrier (drywall is typically extra)
- Permit coordination, we pull the Toronto building permit and schedule the required inspections
What's Included in Window Well Installation
A standalone window well installation is a smaller scoped job. It includes:
- Well supply and installation, a corrugated galvanized steel, aluminum, or polymer well in standard sizes (most common: 36" × 24", 44" × 30", or custom)
- Drainage connection, gravel base and drain tile tied into your existing drainage system
- Backfill and compaction, clear stone and soil backfill around the well
- Optional extras, a window well cover ($300–$900), window well drainage and waterproofing ($500–$3,000), and window well replacement or repair ($500–$2,000)
This is the right scope when your window already meets code and you're dealing with a cracked, rusted, or undersized well, or no well at all.
Pricing Comparison
what you can expect to pay across the GTA in 2025:
| Scope | Typical Range |
|---|---|
| Window well installation only | $800–$2,500 |
| Window well cover | $300–$900 |
| Window well drainage & waterproofing | $500–$3,000 |
| Window well replacement & repair | $500–$2,000 |
| Full egress window installation | $4,500–$8,000 |
| Basement door installation (alternative egress) | $2,500–$6,000 |
| Basement waterproofing (if needed) | From $1,200 |
The wide range on full egress installs reflects foundation type (poured concrete vs. block), wall thickness, soil conditions, and whether the window is a straight replacement or requires enlarging an existing opening. A walk-out basement door is sometimes cheaper than a full egress window and worth considering if you have grade access, but it takes up more interior floor space.
Durability and Upkeep
Window wells take the brunt of Toronto's weather. Freeze-thaw cycles push and pull the soil, which is why corrugated steel wells eventually bow, rust, and separate from the foundation. A well installed with proper drainage, clear stone, perforated pipe, and a clean connection to the drain tile, will last 15–25 years. One installed without drainage will fail in 5–10 years, fill with water, and push moisture through your foundation wall.
Egress windows themselves are low-maintenance. A good vinyl or fiberglass window with a proper exterior flange and flashing will last 20–30 years with minimal attention. The weak points are the well (if it wasn't drained properly) and the cover (if you skip one, leaves and snow will accumulate and block the opening).
Upkeep checklist: clear the well of debris twice a year, check the cover seals after heavy snow, and verify the drain pipe isn't clogged with silt. That's about it.
The Installation Process
For a standalone window well:
1. Excavate around the existing window (typically 1–2 days)
2. Remove the old well if present
3. Install the new well, drainage pipe, and gravel base
4. Backfill and compact
5. Install a cover if you've ordered one
For a full egress window:
1. Free site evaluation, we assess your foundation type, soil, drainage, and existing window, and give you a fixed quote within 48 hours
2. Permit application, Toronto building permit for the foundation opening
3. Excavation, outside access to the foundation wall, typically 1 day
4. Cutting the opening, concrete saw and core drilling, with the cut section removed cleanly
5. Window installation, new window set, shimmed, flashed, and sealed
6. Well and drainage, well installed, drain pipe connected, gravel backfilled
7. Interior framing, rough opening framed, insulated, vapour barrier installed
8. Inspection, City of Toronto inspection to confirm OBC compliance
9. Finish work, drywall, trim, and paint (optional, quoted separately)
Most full egress installs take 3–5 working days. We install year-round, Toronto's freeze-thaw cycles are handled with proper drainage design, not by shutting down in November.
Why Choose Egress Window Pros Toronto
We're a family-run Toronto basement contractor with 12 years of below-grade work and more than 400 egress windows and window wells installed across the GTA, from Etobicoke to Scarborough, North York to the Beaches. Every egress install meets OBC 9.9.10.1 exit requirements, and we back our work with a 10-year workmanship warranty. We're licensed, insured, and WSIB covered.
We don't upsell you into a full egress window if a window well replacement is all you need, and we won't tell you a new well is enough when your window doesn't meet code. The free site evaluation is free, and the quote is good for 30 days.
The Bottom Line: Which One Do You Need?
If your basement window already meets OBC 9.9.10.1 (minimum 0.35 m² opening, 380 mm wide, 450 mm high, sill within 1,000 mm of the floor) and the well is rusted, cracked, or missing, a window well installation is the right call. You'll spend $800–$2,500 and solve the problem.
If your window is too small, too high, or non-operable, a window well alone is wasted money. You need a full egress window installation at $4,500–$8,000. This is also the answer if you're finishing a basement bedroom, adding a rental unit, or selling a home with a basement that needs a legal second exit.
If you're not sure, that's what the free site evaluation is for. We'll measure your window, check the code requirements, and tell you exactly which scope applies. No guesswork, no pressure.
Book your free site evaluation and quote within 48 hours. Call Egress Window Pros Toronto or use the contact form on this page, we'll tell you what your basement actually needs, and what it'll cost, before you spend a dollar.