Egress windows are one of the most common sources of water intrusion when they are not installed correctly. We see a lot of leaking egress windows in the Quad Cities, and in most cases the problem is not the window itself. It is how the system was designed and installed.

Behncke Construction provides egress window repair throughout the Quad Cities. Our focus is identifying what went wrong and correcting it so the problem does not come back.

Most leaking egress windows come down to a few common issues. Improper installation is one of the biggest. If the window is not sealed correctly to the foundation or the surrounding materials are not installed properly, water will find a way in.

Drainage is another major factor. An egress window well is essentially a hole in the ground next to your foundation. If it does not drain properly, it will fill with water and eventually that water will push into the basement.

We also see problems caused by the wrong size window being installed. If the opening is cut incorrectly or the window does not fit the space the way it should, it creates gaps and weak points that allow water intrusion.

Missing or undersized headers are another issue, especially when the opening is cut into a foundation wall without proper structural support. Over time, movement can occur, which leads to leaks and shifting.

Improperly sized window wells can also contribute to the problem. If the well is too small, holds water, or is not installed at the correct depth, it increases the chance of water collecting around the window.

Code violations are common as well. Egress windows have specific requirements, and when those are not followed, it often leads to both structural and water issues.

Egress windows are required to meet specific building code standards for safety. These requirements are based on the International Residential Code and adopted locally throughout the Quad Cities.

The window must have a minimum opening area of 5.7 square feet. The minimum opening height is 24 inches, and the minimum opening width is 20 inches. The bottom of the opening cannot be more than 44 inches above the floor.

In addition, the window well must provide enough space for safe exit and typically requires a minimum horizontal projection of 36 inches. If the well is deeper than a certain height, a ladder or steps may be required.

These dimensions are not optional. If they are not met, the window may not pass inspection and may not function properly in an emergency.

Repairing a leaking egress window is not just a matter of sealing around the frame. The entire system needs to be evaluated.

This includes the window itself, the cut opening, structural support, drainage at the base of the well, the well size and placement, and how everything ties into the surrounding foundation and grading.

In some cases, the repair may involve correcting drainage and sealing. In other cases, it may require removing and reinstalling the window correctly or addressing structural issues that were overlooked during the original installation.

The goal is to fix the root cause, not just the symptom.

There are a lot of details that need to be right for an egress window to perform the way it should. When any part of the system is off, problems show up over time.

That is why homeowners and property owners call Behncke Construction. With nearly eighty years of experience working on foundations and basement structures in the Quad Cities, we understand how these systems need to be built and repaired so they hold up.

We provide egress window repair throughout Davenport, Bettendorf, Moline, Rock Island, LeClaire, and Muscatine.

If your egress window is leaking or was not installed correctly, we can take a look at it, identify what is causing the problem, and explain what needs to be done to fix it properly.

The goal is to correct the issue once and avoid ongoing problems.

Egress Overview

Our Egress Window Code Compliant Specs

Foundation Repair