A bedroom needs a way out in a fire. Ontario's Building Code requires bedrooms (without an exterior door) to have a window that opens from inside without tools and provides an unobstructed opening of at least 0.35 m² with no dimension under 380 mm, and deep window wells need clearance in front of the window. This matters most for basement bedrooms: it's the difference between a real "3+1" and marketing.
$3,000 to $8,000 to retrofit an egress window in the GTA (complex installs $12,000+)Address before purchaseWindowsInterior
The ten second check
What else is typical in a house this age?
You are reading the bedroom egress windows page. Type the year the house was built and I will tell you what else tends to be true at that age, what it costs, and what to ask. One number, ten seconds.
Free. No account. Educational and impartial, not a home inspection.
Why it matters
If the "+1 bedroom" has a small hopper window near the ceiling, it may not meet egress, which affects safety, the legal bedroom count, insurance, and resale. Retrofitting means cutting the foundation, installing a well and drainage, and a code-size window: $3,000 to $8,000 typically, more when foundations are thick or access is tight.
How to spot it
In a basement bedroom, look at the window: could an adult actually climb out? Small, high, painted-shut, or barred (without a quick-release) windows are the red flags. Outside, check the window well, crumbling, full of leaves or water, or missing a ladder when deep.
What it costs
$3,000 to $8,000 for a typical GTA retrofit; complex installs to $12,000+.
What to do
Before purchase, if a listed bedroom's window looks undersized, ask whether the room was permitted as a bedroom and price the retrofit into your offer. Treat "bars without quick-release" and "painted shut" as the same finding.
Education and triage, not a home inspection. Casaroo can flag that a window looks undersized for a bedroom, whether it meets code is a measurement and a municipal question. Verify with your inspector or the municipality; Casaroo never declares a room legal or illegal.
Common questions
Does an undersized window make the basement bedroom illegal?
That is a question only your municipality can answer, and Casaroo never declares a room legal or illegal. What you can do is ask whether the room was permitted as a bedroom, and treat the answer as part of what you are paying for.
Does this affect what the house is worth?
It can. A 3+1 that cannot legally call the +1 a bedroom is priced differently than one that can, and the retrofit to fix it is $3,000 to $8,000, more when the foundation is thick or access is tight.
Will my insurer care about egress?
It can come up, particularly if the space is being rented or marketed as a suite. Ask your broker about the specific configuration before conditions come off rather than assuming a finished basement is a finished basement.
Are window bars a problem?
They are, unless they have a quick-release from the inside. Bars without one turn an egress window into a non-egress window, and they should be treated as the same finding as a window that is too small.
Last reviewed 2026-07-10.
This guide is general education, not a home inspection and not advice for your specific property. Always
consult the appropriate licensed professional, and get a licensed home inspection before you remove conditions
or buy. Cost ranges are 2026 estimates that vary by region, size, and access; confirm specifics with a
qualified professional.