We added two egress windows to our Pickering basement last fall to convert two rooms to legal bedrooms for our basement apartment. Sharing the full experience.
Scope:
- Two bedrooms below grade, both needed egress windows
- Both rooms had existing small windows (25x14 inches) — needed to be enlarged
- Required concrete cutting, window wells, drainage, and new windows
Permit process:
- Applied through Durham Region building portal
- Required: sketch of window location, manufacturer specs, note on lintel (existing solid poured concrete wall — lintel not required for our opening size)
- Permit cost: $190 per window ($380 total)
- Issued in 9 business days
Contractor quotes (2 windows):
- Quote A: $7,400 (included casement windows, vinyl frames, premium window wells with ladders)
- Quote B: $6,100 (similar scope, no well covers)
- Quote C: $8,200 (added interior waterproofing membrane around wells)
We went with Quote B at $6,100 — decided the interior waterproofing in Quote C was overselling (our basement is dry, just needed the windows).
Result:
Both rooms now legally rentable. Added $350/month per room to our basement suite asking rent (total suite $2,450 vs $1,750 before). Payback on the $6,100: under 9 months.