Egress Window Installation in Toronto, ON | OCM Excavation

OCM Excavation installs code-compliant egress windows across Toronto so your basement bedroom actually meets Ontario Building Code 9.7.1.3 and 9.9.10. We handle the full scope: exterior excavation, foundation saw-cut, steel lintel, waterproof sill, window install, and the window well that ties into your drainage. If you are legalizing a second suite in Riverdale, Leslieville, Roncesvalles, or the Beaches, the egress opening is usually the gating item on the City file. Call 416-317-3090 for a Toronto site visit.

What “Egress” Actually Means Under the Ontario Building Code

Any room used as a bedroom in Ontario needs an emergency escape opening. The Building Code spells it out: a clear opening of at least 0.35 square metres, no dimension under 380 mm, sill height no more than 1.5 m above the finished floor, and the window has to open from the inside without keys, tools, or special knowledge. A standard hopper window in a 1950s Toronto bungalow does not meet any of those numbers. That is why your designer or City plan reviewer flagged it.

The Five Pieces of an Egress Install in Toronto

Exterior excavation — we dig down 24 to 36 inches below grade and 12 inches past the planned window perimeter using a Yanmar SV40 mini-excavator, tight enough to work narrow Toronto side yards.
Foundation cut — concrete saw-cut followed by chain-saw or hammer-drill removal of the poured wall section. Any cut wider than 36 inches needs an engineer-stamped lintel design from your designer.
Steel lintel and sill — pressed or welded steel lintel carries the load above the new opening; a waterproof sill goes in at the base.
Window install — egress-sized sliding or casement unit, typically 36″×48″ or 36″×60″, set in waterproof flashing and sealed.
Window well and drainage — see our Toronto window well installation page; we tie drainage stone to weeping tile so the well does not become a swimming pool.

Permits, Lintels, and Why Toronto Plans Take Longer

Toronto’s Building Division issues a building permit for the foundation cut and window install. If you are also creating a second-suite layout, expect a zoning compliance review on top of the structural permit. Confirm the current process with Toronto Building before you cut anything — they update their second-suite registration requirements regularly. Most poured concrete foundations in Toronto can take an egress cut with the right lintel; some older block walls cannot without underpinning. We will tell you which one you have on the site visit.

Typical Toronto Pricing and Timeline

Most Toronto egress installs run $3,500 to $7,500 per opening. The spread depends on foundation type (poured concrete vs. block), depth below grade, window size, soil conditions, and whether the well drains to an existing weeping tile or needs a new run. Timeline per opening is 5 to 10 working days including concrete cure and Toronto Building inspection. If you are doing two openings on the same wall — common in a legal-suite Toronto bungalow — we batch the excavation and save you a day or two.

When Egress Is Part of a Bigger Toronto Basement Project

Plenty of Toronto homeowners pair the egress with other excavation work. If your basement ceiling is under 6’5″ you may be looking at basement underpinning in Toronto to drop the floor and get legal ceiling height — we can sequence the egress cut into the underpinning schedule. If you want a separate entrance for a Toronto second suite, a walk-up basement conversion in Toronto often shares the same exterior excavation footprint. Bundling these calls saves on mobilization and dig crew time.

Why Toronto Homeowners Call OCM

We are excavation-first. Foundation cuts, window wells, walk-ups, underpinning — all the work that happens before the framer arrives is what we do. We coordinate with your designer’s engineer drawings, pull the dig together cleanly, and leave the opening square and waterproof so the window installer just sets the unit. Call 416-317-3090 to book a Toronto site visit, or browse our other GTA service areas. Neighbouring cities: North York egress, Vaughan egress.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a permit for an egress window in Toronto?

Yes. Toronto Building requires a building permit for any foundation cut and structural opening. If the egress is part of legalizing a second suite, you will also go through a zoning compliance review. Your designer files the application with engineer-stamped drawings showing the lintel and opening size.

Can you cut my foundation if it is concrete block, not poured?

Sometimes. Block walls in good condition can take an egress cut with a properly designed lintel, but if the block is deteriorated or the wall is load-bearing in a tight spot, underpinning or wall reinforcement may be needed first. We check on the site visit and your engineer confirms what the wall can carry.

How long does the basement bedroom sit unusable during the work?

Plan on 5 to 10 working days per opening. The interior wall is open for roughly half that, but you should also leave time for the City inspection before close-up. If you are running multiple openings or combining with underpinning, the timeline gets sequenced into the larger project schedule.

Does egress alone make my basement a legal second suite in Toronto?

No. Egress is one requirement of many. You also need ceiling height, separate HVAC or compliant shared systems, fire separation, smoke alarms, and a registered second-suite file with the City. Egress is usually the structural piece that gates the rest, which is why people call us first.

What does an egress install typically cost in Toronto?

Most jobs land between $3,500 and $7,500 per opening, including excavation, foundation cut, steel lintel, window, and basic window well. Wider openings, deeper digs, or wells that need new drainage runs push the number up. We quote a firm price after the site visit.

Book a Toronto Site Visit

Call OCM Excavation at 416-317-3090 or use our free quote form to get a Toronto egress window install scoped properly. We will tell you what your foundation can take, what the City will want to see, and what the realistic number is.

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