Do I need a window well with my Calgary basement egress window?

Yes, in nearly all Calgary basement egress installations you will need a window well, because the window opening sits below the exterior grade level and the well is what creates the space for escape, firefighter access, and drainage. The only exception is a walkout basement where the window wall is fully above grade — and even then, proper grading away from the window is essential. For the vast majority of Calgary homes, the egress window sits 3 to 5 feet below the exterior soil line, making a properly installed window well an integral part of the egress system.

The Alberta Building Code requires the window well to be large enough that a person can escape through the window and move away from the building, and that a firefighter in full gear can access the window from outside. Practically, this means the well should be at least 36 inches wide (wider than the window opening) and project at least 36 inches out from the foundation wall. If the window well depth exceeds 44 inches from the top of the well to the bottom, a permanently attached ladder or steps must be installed to allow someone to climb out. Most Calgary egress installations end up with wells that are 48 to 60 inches deep, so a ladder or built-in steps are almost always required.

Window well construction in Calgary requires careful attention to drainage — this is where our climate makes all the difference. During spring snowmelt, particularly when chinook winds trigger rapid thaws in March and April, massive volumes of water flow across still-frozen ground directly toward foundation walls and into window wells. A window well without proper drainage becomes a swimming pool pressed against your basement window, and if that window has even a minor seal failure, you've got a flooded basement. Every egress window well in Calgary should have a minimum 12-inch gravel drainage bed at the bottom, connected to the home's weeping tile system or a dedicated drain line to the sump pit. Some contractors install a dedicated 4-inch drain pipe from the well base directly to the interior perimeter drainage or sump.

Window well materials fall into three main categories. Corrugated galvanized steel wells are the most common and most affordable at $100 to $300 for the well itself. They're functional but utilitarian. Modular plastic window wells (brands like Rockwell and Monarch) cost $300 to $800 and offer a cleaner look with built-in steps and better drainage integration. Custom-built concrete or masonry window wells provide the most durable and attractive solution but cost $800 to $2,000 before any finishing. Including excavation, drainage, backfill, and the well itself, expect to pay $800 to $2,000 as part of your total egress window installation.

Don't forget a window well cover — Calgary's climate makes this essential rather than optional. Covers keep snow, rain, leaves, and debris out of the well while still allowing emergency egress. Browse basement contractors through the Calgary Construction Network to get your egress installation done right.