Basement Window Replacement in the Capital Region
Basement windows are the most neglected openings in the house and they cause more trouble than their size suggests. In a typical Capital Region home built between 1920 and 1970, the basement window is either a wood frame that has been quietly rotting since the Nixon administration or a steel hopper that has rusted into its own opening.
Basement window replacement costs $350 to $900 per opening in the Capital Region. Most older homes here have rotted wood frames or rusted steel hoppers sitting in a poured or block foundation, and the replacement is usually a vinyl hopper, a sliding unit, or glass block depending on whether you need ventilation.
They matter for three reasons. They are a direct air leak into the coldest part of the house, which drags down the temperature of every floor above. They are the easiest exterior entry point in most homes. And if the basement is finished or has a bedroom, code has something to say about whether that window is legal egress.
Sundog replaces basement windows in poured concrete, concrete block, and old stone foundations, which the Stockade and South Troy have plenty of.
Signs your basement windows need replacing
- Wood frame is soft, spongy, or you can push a screwdriver into it
- Steel frame is rusted through or painted shut
- Daylight visible around the frame perimeter
- Water stains or active seepage at the sill during heavy rain
- Glass is broken, cracked, or has been replaced with plywood
- You are finishing the basement and need code-compliant openings
Hopper, slider or glass block
The right choice depends on whether you need air, light, security, or a legal exit.
| Option | Installed cost | Ventilation | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vinyl hopper | $350 to $600 | Yes | Standard unfinished or finished basement |
| Vinyl slider | $450 to $800 | Yes, more | Wider openings, workshop spaces |
| Glass block vented | $500 to $900 | Limited | Security priority, street-level openings |
| Glass block solid | $400 to $750 | No | Light only, maximum security |
| Egress casement | $3,500 to $8,500 | Yes | Basement bedroom, code required |
If your basement has a bedroom, read this
New York State code, following the International Residential Code, requires an emergency escape and rescue opening in every sleeping room, including basement bedrooms. The window has to provide at least 5.7 square feet of net clear opening, with a minimum opening height of 24 inches and minimum width of 20 inches, and the sill cannot be more than 44 inches above the finished floor. A standard basement hopper does not come close to any of those numbers. If you are finishing a basement and putting a bedroom in it, you need a proper egress window, which means cutting the foundation and installing a window well. We do that work, and it is covered in detail on our egress window page.
Ranges reflect typical Capital Region projects and are for planning only. Every Sundog quote is written, itemized, and free.
How the project runs
- 1
Measure the existing opening
Foundation openings are rarely standard. We measure the masonry opening, not the old frame, since the frame is often not square anymore.
- 2
Identify the foundation type
Poured concrete, block, and stone each get a different fastening and sealing approach.
- 3
Remove and prep
Old frame comes out, the masonry opening is cleaned and any spalled concrete is patched before the new unit goes in.
- 4
Set and seal
New unit is set, shimmed, fastened to the masonry, and sealed with a backer rod and sealant joint rather than just a bead of caulk.
- 5
Exterior grading check
We look at whether the ground outside is pitched toward the window, which is why most basement windows leak in the first place.
Your replacement options
- Vinyl hopper window, tilts in from the top, best all-round choice
- Vinyl slider, good for wider openings where you want more ventilation
- Glass block with a vent, maximum security and no maintenance, no egress
- Glass block solid, for openings where light matters and ventilation does not
- Egress-rated casement, required if there is a bedroom down there
- Insulated panel infill, when you want the opening closed permanently
- Window well replacement and regrading where water is the actual problem
Where we do this work
We handle basement window replacement across Albany, Rensselaer, Schenectady and Saratoga counties from our Troy office. These are the markets we are in most often.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to replace a basement window?
A straight vinyl hopper replacement in a sound masonry opening runs $350 to $600 installed. Glass block runs $400 to $900 depending on size and whether you add a vent. If the opening has to be cut or enlarged, or if it is becoming an egress window, the cost moves to a different tier because the foundation work dominates.
Can basement windows be replaced in the winter?
Yes, as long as the sealant can cure. Most basement window replacements are a few hours per opening and the house never sits open the way it would for a full-frame upstairs replacement. The limitation is masonry patching, which does not like freezing temperatures, so heavy concrete repair sometimes waits for spring.
Are glass block basement windows a good idea?
For security and for openings you never need to open, yes. They are extremely strong, they never need paint, and they let light in while being effectively impossible to get through quickly. The trade-off is ventilation, which you can partially solve with a vented block unit, and the fact that they can never be egress.
Why does my basement window keep leaking?
Usually the problem is outside, not the window. If the ground is graded toward the foundation, or the window well is full of debris and has no drainage, water pools against the window and eventually finds a way in. Replacing the window without fixing the grading or the well just gives the water a newer thing to leak past. We check this during the estimate.
Do I need a permit to replace a basement window?
Not for a same-size replacement in most Capital Region municipalities. You do need one if the opening is being enlarged or cut, which includes any egress window installation, because you are altering the foundation.
What if my foundation is old stone?
Stone foundations are common in older Troy, Albany and Schenectady homes and they need a different approach. The opening is rarely square or consistent, so we usually build a treated wood buck to true up the opening and then set the new window into that. It takes longer but the result seals properly instead of relying on a heavy bead of caulk to bridge irregular gaps.
Related services
Worth reading before you decide
Get a written quote for basement window replacement
Free measure, itemized pricing, and an honest recommendation on whether this is the right scope for your house.