Egress Window Installation in Richmond Hill, ON | OCM Excavation

OCM Excavation installs egress windows across Richmond Hill that meet Ontario Building Code 9.7.1.3 and 9.9.10 so a basement room actually qualifies as a bedroom. We handle the exterior dig, the foundation saw-cut, the steel lintel, the waterproof sill, the window itself, and the window well drainage in one coordinated job. Most of our Richmond Hill calls come from Bayview and Crosby — post-war bungalows being converted into legal-suite rentals where the original basement windows are nowhere near code. Call 416-317-3090 for a Richmond Hill site visit.

What the Code Actually Requires

Ontario’s Building Code is specific. Any room used as a bedroom needs a clear escape opening of at least 0.35 square metres, no single dimension under 380 mm, sill height no more than 1.5 m above the finished floor, and the window must open from inside without keys or tools. The 12-by-24-inch hopper windows in a typical 1950s Richmond Hill bungalow do not come close. That is the gap an egress install closes.

The Five Steps of an Egress Install

• Exterior excavation — Yanmar SV40 mini-excavator digs 24 to 36 inches below grade, 12 inches past the planned window perimeter, working around fences, gas lines, and Richmond Hill’s mature landscaping.
• Foundation cut — concrete saw scores the perimeter, then chain-saw or hammer-drill removes the wall section. Cuts wider than 36 inches need an engineer-stamped lintel.
• Steel lintel and waterproof sill — load-bearing steel above the new opening, sealed sill at the base.
• Window install — egress-sized sliding or casement, typically 36″×48″ or 36″×60″, flashed and sealed.
• Window well and drainage — see our Richmond Hill window well installation page; clean stone tied to weeping tile keeps the well dry.

Permits and the Richmond Hill Building Division

Richmond Hill’s Building Division issues a building permit for the foundation cut and the window opening. If the install is part of a second-suite conversion, expect zoning input as well — check current process with Richmond Hill before you commit to a schedule. Most poured concrete foundations in Richmond Hill can take an egress cut with the proper lintel design. Older block walls in some pre-1960s homes need an engineering review, and occasionally underpinning, before any cut is made. We will tell you which category your house falls into during the site visit.

Richmond Hill Pricing and Timeline

Typical Richmond Hill egress installs run $3,500 to $7,500 per opening. Variables: foundation type, depth below grade, window size, soil and water table conditions, and how the well drains. Per opening, plan on 5 to 10 working days including cure time and the City inspection. Bayview-area lots with hard subsoil and tight access run on the slower end; newer Crosby builds with poured walls and accessible side yards move faster.

When Egress Is Part of a Larger Richmond Hill Basement Project

A lot of Richmond Hill legal-suite projects bundle egress with other excavation work. If your basement ceiling is below 6’5″, we sequence the egress cut into a Richmond Hill basement underpinning schedule so both happen on one mobilization. If the suite needs a separate entrance, a Richmond Hill walk-up basement conversion often shares the same dig footprint as one of the egress openings, saving a day on excavation and one round of restoration.

Why Richmond Hill Homeowners Choose OCM

We are the excavation-and-foundation crew, not a general renovator. That means the foundation cut, the dig, the well, the drainage tie-in, and the waterproof finish all come from one trade. Your designer’s engineer drawings feed straight into our work. We leave the opening square and watertight; your window installer or framer takes it from there. Call 416-317-3090, or look at neighbouring cities like Vaughan egress and Markham egress. Full list of GTA service areas.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a permit for an egress window in Richmond Hill?

Yes. Richmond Hill issues a building permit for any structural opening in a foundation wall. If you are legalizing a basement suite, a zoning review is usually layered on. Your designer files the permit with engineer-stamped drawings showing the lintel and opening dimensions.

My Richmond Hill bungalow has a block foundation — can you still cut it?

Often yes, but it depends on the wall’s condition and what is above the cut. Sound block walls take an egress opening with a properly designed lintel. Deteriorated or heavily loaded blockwork may need reinforcement or partial underpinning first. We assess on site and your engineer signs off on the structural plan.

How disruptive is the dig to my Richmond Hill yard?

The excavation footprint is roughly 4 by 6 feet on the exterior, plus a stockpile area for soil. Mature shrubs near the wall need to be pulled or transplanted before we dig. We backfill, regrade, and leave you ready for sod or landscape restoration. Lawn and patio repair is normally your landscaper’s scope.

Can I get egress done in winter in Richmond Hill?

Yes, but frost-frozen soil slows the excavation and the City inspection schedule can be tighter. We use ground-thaw blankets when the frost is deep. Spring-through-fall is faster and usually cheaper because mobilization is simpler.

What’s the typical cost in Richmond Hill?

Most openings land between $3,500 and $7,500 fully installed — excavation, foundation cut, lintel, window, and basic window well included. Wider cuts, deeper digs, or drainage tie-ins to new runs push the number up. We quote a firm price after the site visit.

Book a Richmond Hill Site Visit

Call OCM Excavation at 416-317-3090 or fill out our free quote form. We will scope the opening, check what your foundation can carry, and give you a realistic Richmond Hill price and timeline.

Related Services in Richmond Hill

• Egress Window Installation in Vaughan
• Egress Window Installation in Toronto
• Egress Window Installation in North York
• Egress Window Installation in Mississau
• Walk-Up Basement Conversion in Richmond Hill
• Basement Underpinning in Richmond Hill
• Window Well Installation in Richmond Hill
• Foundation Waterproofing in Richmond Hill
• All Service Areas