By definition, an egress window is any window that provides a safe escape route from your home in case of fire, as well as an access point for emergency personnel. That being said, they're an important (and required) feature throughout your home. And if you're adding an egress window in your basement, you'll reap the added benefits of bringing natural light and ventilation into your basement area, and increasing your home's overall square footage and value.

Where are they needed
At least one means of egress is required in every basement.  One is also needed in every sleeping room.  If there is only one sleeping room you can get away with just one window as long as you put it in the slleping room.

Egress Windows: The Pros
There isn't much not to like when it comes to adding an egress window. They increase the value of your home, and create a safer environment for everyone that lives under your roof. And since size requirements mean larger windows overall, they bring in more natural lighting, and provide more ventilation throughout. Here's a list of reasons that egress windows should top your to-do list this summer.

• Safety — According to the U.S. Fire Administration, "4,000 Americans die each year in fires, and over 20,000 are injured," many of which could be avoided with proper escape plans and routes. An egress window in each bedroom, as well as in other "habituated" areas (basements included), drastically increases your chances of safe escape in the event of a major house fire, and provides entry points into your home for emergency personnel.
• Added Value — Adding egress windows in your basement is especially important when it comes to increasing the value of your home, since it's the key to bringing basement bedrooms and living areas up to code and including them in calculations of overall square footage. According to Popular Mechanics magazine, "with an extra legal bedroom [in the basement], you could recover 10 to 20 times your window installation cost when you eventually sell your home."
• Added Comfort — Sam Satterwhite of The Family Handyman writes that "an egress window in a basement dramatically brightens an otherwise dark, dingy room," which isn't surprising considering the fact that most building codes require egress windows to provide "a clear opening of at least 5.7 square feet." A window of that size is big enough to provide a wealth of natural ventilation to the stuffiest basement, as well.
• Design — You don't have to line basement egress window wells with ugly corrugated tin. If budget isn't an issue, you can build with materials like wood, stone, or brick. Or you can purchase composite window well liners that mimic natural materials, making for basement egress windows that are practical, cost-effective, attractive, and easy to install. You can even "landscape" with small planting beds to add a little color and life to this traditionally drab space.

Egress Windows: The Cons
Minus budgetary concerns, there really isn't a reason not to install egress windows. Even then, the payoff from an investment/return standpoint is so substantial that most budget-based arguments fall apart pretty quickly.

The Process:

From the moment you hire us, you can be sure your job will be done right. 

• The first step in the process is drafting a site plan and a basic design to submit for the building permit.
• Next, we will show up at the time we schedule with you.
• We will use sheets of plywood to protect your lawn, and then we will start digging
• While one guy digs the hole, the other will be prepping the inside.
  • This can include removing the old window
  • Cutting back any drywall
  • Building a small tent to protect the inside of the room once we start cutting
• Next we will cut and remove the concrete
• Then we will install the window
• We are nearly done at this point.  Depending on if a header was needed or not we may have to leave the inside framing exposed for the building inspector.  If this is the case we will come back the next day and trim everything out after the inspector has had a chance to see everything.  If a header was not required we will have everything finished that same day in a typicall installation.
• Finally we will clean up.  The only way you will know we were there is by the bright new window lighhting up your basement.