Eastern Waterproofing installs egress windows in basements across Manchester, CT, and the surrounding towns. We cut a code-sized opening in the foundation, then install the window and a well with drainage at its base. The business has been family-owned since 1976, and an owner handles every estimate.
Many older Connecticut basements have small windows set high in the wall. They let in some light, but most adults cannot climb through one, which becomes a problem once the basement is used as living space.
Egress windows are part of Eastern Waterproofing's owner-led waterproofing services in Manchester. If your basement window falls short, call (860) 875-6646 to schedule a free assessment.
Connecticut has one statewide building code, and its residential portion is based on the International Residential Code with state amendments, so the same rules apply in Manchester as in any other town. The window and the well are measured separately, and both must pass. The dimensions below are the model code requirements; your town building department has the final word on your project.
| Item | Code requirement | What it means on site |
| Net clear opening | 5.7 sq ft minimum (5 sq ft allowed at grade-floor and below-grade openings) | Measured with the sash fully open, not from the frame size |
| Clear width | 20 in. minimum | Enough room for shoulders to pass |
| Clear height | 24 in. minimum | Enough height to climb through |
| Sill height | 44 in. maximum above the floor | Measured to the bottom of the clear opening |
| Item | Code requirement | What it means on site |
| Well floor area | 9 sq ft minimum | Room to stand up outside the window |
| Projection from the wall | 36 in. minimum | Room to turn and climb |
| Well deeper than 44 in. | Permanent ladder or steps | May not project more than 6 in. into the required well space |
| Covers and grates | Must open from inside | No keys, tools, or special knowledge needed to get out |
The right combination of window, well, and cover depends on how far below grade the window sits and how the yard drains.
| Window style | How it opens | Rough opening needed | Best fit |
| Casement | Sash cranks outward to nearly its full width | Smaller | Most basement egress openings; the sash needs room to swing out into the well |
| Sliding | One sash slides past the other | Wider, since half the glass stays fixed | Walls with room for a long, low opening |
A clear, hinged cover keeps snow, leaves, and sand out of the well without blocking daylight, which helps keep the drain at the bottom from clogging.
An owner assesses the basement, takes measurements, and gives you a free written quote.
We excavate outside the foundation to make room for the new well.
We cut the concrete cleanly, with dust containment inside the basement. In general, a block wall needs its cut cores filled and a lintel set above the opening, while a poured wall is saw-cut to size.
We install the window, then the well with drainage at its base.
We clean up completely and walk you through the finished project.
An egress well opens at least 9 square feet of ground against your foundation, so it collects rain and snowmelt. If that water has nowhere to go, it can rise against the new window and leak into the room you just finished.
The drain at the bottom of the well has to carry water somewhere lower. Where the basement already has an interior drainage system under the slab, the well drain can feed into it; where it does not, a gravity line can run to a lower part of the yard.
An egress well lets water in for the same reasons as a leaking basement window well: no drain, a drain packed with silt, or soil and downspouts sending water toward the house. These steps address each cause.
Customer reviews mention no hard sell, an owner on site, and a clean work area.
Based in Manchester, Eastern Waterproofing serves East Hartford, South Windsor, Vernon, Bolton, and other towns in Hartford and Tolland counties. We also serve Middlesex, New London, Windham, New Haven, and Fairfield counties in Connecticut, and Hampden County in Massachusetts. Egress windows are one of the waterproofing and drainage services we provide, alongside window well drainage, hatchway leak repair, and floor-level seepage repair.
Yes. Cutting a new opening in a foundation wall is a structural alteration, and it requires a building permit from your town. The inspector checks the clear opening, sill height, well size, and any ladder or steps. Ask your building department how the inspection fits around framing and drywall.
Under the residential code, a new sleeping room created in an existing basement needs an escape opening, while other remodeling of an existing basement generally does not. New construction and additions follow stricter rules. Your town building official makes the final call, so confirm with them before you frame.
Often, yes, since part of the wall is already open. The finished opening still has to meet every code dimension, and the existing well must be replaced if it is smaller than the 9-square-foot egress minimum. Whether enlarging works depends on the wall and what sits above the window.
Most installations take one to two days on site. A deep well, rock ledge, heavy clay, or tight access between houses can add time. Permit approval before the work and the inspection afterward add to the overall timeline.
Yes. Under the residential code, each basement sleeping room needs its own emergency escape and rescue opening. Two bedrooms sharing one window does not meet the requirement, so plan the room layout and egress openings together before framing.
Yes, financing options are available. Ask about them during your free estimate.
Call (860) 875-6646 or request a free estimate, and an Eastern Waterproofing owner will assess your basement and provide a written quote. If you are finishing a basement in Manchester or a nearby town, install the egress window before framing so new drywall does not have to come out later.
Eastern Waterproofing Co., Inc.
199 Adams St, Manchester, CT 06042
Phone: (860) 875-6646
Email: info@easternwaterproofing.com
Hours: Monday to Friday, 7:00 am to 4:00 pm
