Question 1

Who is GHR Egress Windows?

Accepted Answer

GHR Egress Windows is a family-run company based in Edwardsville, IL. Tim Grotefendt started it in 2009. His wife Nicci built the backend that runs the business. We have a five-man install crew and we have completed 600+ egress window installs across the St. Louis metro.

Question 2

Do you only install egress windows?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Egress windows are all we do. We don't do kitchens, bathrooms, or general remodeling. That focus is why we are faster, cleaner, and more dialed in on code than a general contractor who installs a few egress windows a year.

Question 3

Are you licensed and insured?

Accepted Answer

Yes, GHR is fully licensed and insured. We pull permits on our jobs and meet the inspector when you want us to. Every install we have done has passed code.

Question 4

What areas do you serve?

Accepted Answer

We serve the St. Louis metro on both sides of the river, generally within an hour of Edwardsville, IL. That covers most of the Metro East in Illinois and a large part of the St. Louis area in Missouri. If your town isn't on our service area list, call us anyway.

Question 5

How many egress windows have you installed?

Accepted Answer

More than 600 since 2009. We currently install over 100 a year. Egress windows are the only thing we do, so the crew has seen nearly every basement and foundation type in the region.

Question 6

What is an egress window?

Accepted Answer

An egress window is a basement window large enough for a person to climb out of in an emergency, and large enough for a first responder to climb in. Building code sets minimum sizes for the window opening, the sill height, and the window well. A standard small basement window does not meet those requirements.

Question 7

Why would I need an egress window?

Accepted Answer

The most common reason is to add a legal bedroom in a basement. Code requires an egress window in any room used for sleeping. Homeowners add them for a growing family. Investors add them because a legal extra bedroom is one of the best returns on any remodel.

Question 8

Does a basement bedroom legally require an egress window?

Accepted Answer

Yes. For a basement room to count as a legal bedroom, code requires a compliant egress window or door. If you are finishing a basement and want a room to count as a bedroom when you sell or rent, the egress window is not optional.

Question 9

Will an egress window make my basement brighter?

Accepted Answer

Yes, noticeably. An egress window is much larger than a standard basement window, and the window well reflects daylight down into the room. Most homeowners are surprised how much natural light a finished egress install brings into a basement.

Question 10

Can an egress window be added to an existing finished basement?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We cut the foundation, install the window and well, and restore the opening. If the basement is already finished, there will be some interior work to patch and trim around the new window. We talk through all of that before we start.

Question 11

What size does an egress window need to be?

Accepted Answer

Code requires a net clear opening of at least 5.7 square feet, a minimum opening width of 20 inches, a minimum opening height of 24 inches, and a sill no higher than 44 inches from the floor. Ground-floor openings can be 5.0 square feet. Our free Egress Code Self-Check walks you through your own numbers.

Question 12

Can an egress window add a bedroom to my house?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Code requires an egress window in any room used as a bedroom. Adding a code-compliant egress window to a finished basement room turns it into a real, legal bedroom. It is how a lot of growing families add the space they need without buying a bigger house.

Question 13

Are egress windows a good investment for a rental or resale?

Accepted Answer

Yes. A legal extra bedroom is one of the best returns on any remodel. Adding a compliant egress window lets a basement room count as a bedroom when you rent or sell, which raises the value of the property. We work with investors and rental owners across the metro.

Question 14

How long does an egress window installation take?

Accepted Answer

Most installs are done in a single day. We dig the well, cut the foundation, install the window, set the well, backfill, and clean up. Larger jobs, multiple windows, or unusual foundation conditions can run into a second day. We tell you which to expect before we start.

Question 15

Do you cut the concrete foundation yourselves?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The guys do the full install, including the concrete cutting. We don't sub out the hard part. We cut the foundation opening with a water-fed concrete saw to keep the dust down, and the guys run fresh-air masks on every cut.

Question 16

Do you use heavy equipment in my yard?

Accepted Answer

No. We hand dig every window well. We don't bring in heavy equipment that tears up your yard. Hand digging is cleaner, and it lets us dig in tight spots where machines can't reach. It also gives you more flexibility on where the window can go. It is one of the things that sets us apart from other companies.

Question 17

Will the installation damage my landscaping?

Accepted Answer

We work hard to avoid it. We dig carefully, we haul the dirt out, and we put your landscaping back the way we found it. Look at our project photos. Restoring the yard cleanly is part of the job, not an afterthought.

Question 18

Do you handle the permit and inspection?

Accepted Answer

We can. We pull the permit and meet the inspector for you if you want us to. We leave the final call on permitting to you, but everything we install is built to code either way.

Question 19

What do I need to do to get ready for install day?

Accepted Answer

Clear access to the work area inside and outside the basement. Move anything you care about away from the install wall. We handle the rest. We will give you a short prep list when we fit you on the schedule.

Question 20

What happens to the dirt from digging the well?

Accepted Answer

That is up to you. We can haul it away for a fee if you want it gone. Or you keep it, and we'll place it anywhere on your property you want. The soil from a well dig is useful. A lot of homeowners have us use it for grading, filling in low spots, or building up a berm. Just tell us what you want and we'll handle it.

Question 21

How much does an egress window cost?

Accepted Answer

We don't list pricing on the site because every basement is different. Foundation type, well depth, drainage conditions, and finish choices all change the number. Call, text, or send your info and we will give you a flat all-in quote. The price we quote is the price you pay.

Question 22

Do you require a deposit?

Accepted Answer

Yes, a $200 deposit holds your spot on the schedule. The balance is due when the job is finished and you are happy with it. We don't ask for large deposits up front.

Question 23

How far out are you booked?

Accepted Answer

We usually book three to eight weeks out. Egress windows are all we do, so we move through jobs steadily. If you have a timeline, tell us when you call and we will be straight with you about what we can do.

Question 24

Do you negotiate or change your price?

Accepted Answer

We have one flat price and everyone gets the same rate. We don't pad a list price so we can pretend to offer a discount. The only time a price changes is if you change the scope of the job after the contract is signed. Take it or leave it, the same fair deal for everyone.

Egress windows,
answered.

Who is GHR Egress Windows?

Do you only install egress windows?

Are you licensed and insured?

What areas do you serve?

How many egress windows have you installed?

What is an egress window?

Why would I need an egress window?

Does a basement bedroom legally require an egress window?

Will an egress window make my basement brighter?

Can an egress window be added to an existing finished basement?

What size does an egress window need to be?

Can an egress window add a bedroom to my house?

Are egress windows a good investment for a rental or resale?

How long does an egress window installation take?

Do you cut the concrete foundation yourselves?

Do you use heavy equipment in my yard?

Will the installation damage my landscaping?

Do you handle the permit and inspection?

What do I need to do to get ready for install day?

What happens to the dirt from digging the well?

How much does an egress window cost?

Do you require a deposit?

How far out are you booked?

Do you negotiate or change your price?

Talk to a human.

Egress windows,answered.

Who is GHR Egress Windows?

Do you only install egress windows?

Are you licensed and insured?

What areas do you serve?

How many egress windows have you installed?

What is an egress window?

Why would I need an egress window?

Does a basement bedroom legally require an egress window?

Will an egress window make my basement brighter?

Can an egress window be added to an existing finished basement?

What size does an egress window need to be?

Can an egress window add a bedroom to my house?

Are egress windows a good investment for a rental or resale?

How long does an egress window installation take?

Do you cut the concrete foundation yourselves?

Do you use heavy equipment in my yard?

Will the installation damage my landscaping?

Do you handle the permit and inspection?

What do I need to do to get ready for install day?

What happens to the dirt from digging the well?

How much does an egress window cost?

Do you require a deposit?

How far out are you booked?

Do you negotiate or change your price?

Talk to a human.

Egress windows,
answered.