BASEMENT WINDOWS · SLIDER · HOPPER · EGRESS-READY · ENERGY STAR® CERTIFIED
Basement Windows in Ontario
Below-grade windows engineered for moisture, light, and code — in slider and hopper configurations, plus egress-ready options that make a basement safe, legal, and livable. Installed by Trust Build's own expert crews.
What Is a Basement Window?
Built for below-grade openings in Ontario
A basement window in Ontario is a window built specifically for below-grade or partially below-grade openings, where space is tight, moisture is a constant, and natural light is limited. These windows are typically wider than they are tall to fit the short band of wall above the foundation, and they're built to resist water intrusion year-round. Depending on the room and the opening, Trust Build installs basement windows in slider and hopper configurations — and, where a room is habitable, in egress-ready styles that meet the Ontario Building Code.
Basement Window Configurations
Slider and hopper styles for every below-grade opening
Single Slider
One sash glides horizontally past a fixed pane. It's the simplest, most economical basement window — a clean, space-saving choice that brings in light without any sash swinging into the room or the window well. Ideal for utility rooms, rec rooms, and laundry areas.
Double Slider — Lift-Out
Both sashes glide, and they lift out completely for easy cleaning and a wider clear opening. Because two sashes can be removed, a properly sized double slider is a strong candidate for egress while still being easy to maintain. A great fit for finished basements and bedrooms that need light, ventilation, and a code-compliant exit.
Hopper — Top-Opening
Hinged at the bottom, a top-opening hopper tilts inward from the top to let air in. Its compact, tight-sealing design is perfectly suited to small below-grade openings in older Ontario homes — excellent for utility rooms, bathrooms, and laundry spaces where wall height above grade is limited.
Hopper — Side-Opening
A side-hinged hopper variant that swings open to the side instead of tilting from the top. This option suits openings where a side swing clears better than an inward tilt, while keeping the same compact, well-sealed profile for below-grade use.
Basement & Egress
What the code requires
If your basement has a bedroom or other habitable room, the Ontario Building Code requires an egress window for emergency escape. The key clear-opening requirements are:
- Minimum clear opening area: 0.35 m² (3.77 sq ft)
- Minimum clear opening width and height: 550 mm (21.7 in) — with no single dimension below this
- Maximum sill height: 1,000 mm (39.4 in) above the finished floor
A few practical points our team will walk you through:
- Sliders need a wider opening. Because only half a slider opens at once, the rough opening must be wide enough for the open half alone to hit the 0.35 m² clear area.
- Hopper and small awning-style windows often don't qualify for egress. Their limited opening angle and hinge position can block enough of the opening to fall short — which is why hoppers are best for non-habitable spaces, and casement or properly sized sliders are used for bedrooms.
- Frame thickness counts. The clear opening is measured through the actual gap, not the rough opening, so sizing has to account for the frame.
Trust Build assesses your opening on site, recommends the right egress-compliant window, and coordinates the window well and any required permits — so your finished basement passes inspection.
Window Wells & Moisture Protection
Built to stay dry
Below-grade windows live in the toughest spot in the house for water. Trust Build installs basement windows with proper weatherproofing and pairs egress windows with correctly sized, well-drained window wells — protecting the opening, meeting the clearance an egress exit requires, and keeping the basement dry. Window wells, drainage, and waterproofing are part of how we make a basement window last.
Hopper Basement Windows
Inward-tilting hoppers for ventilation and easy cleaning
Hopper basement windows tilt inward from the top, drawing fresh air into below-grade spaces while keeping the sash protected by the window well above. They're a popular choice for finished basements, laundry rooms, and utility areas — and when paired with a code-sized well, they can serve as egress.
Engineered For Ontario
Triple-Pane Glass Unit
Trust Build basement windows are available with our triple-pane glass unit — three panes of glass, two argon-filled chambers, a dual Low-E coating that manages heat in both directions, and a Super Spacer® warm-edge spacer that reduces heat loss and condensation at the glass edge. Built with Cardinal Glass insulated units, it keeps a below-grade room warmer and drier through Ontario winters — where condensation resistance matters most. Double-pane is available where the exposure allows.
Triple-pane construction
Three panes of glass separated by two insulating chambers.
Argon gas fill
A denser-than-air insulator that slows heat transfer through the glass unit.
Dual Low-E coating
Reflects warmth back into your home in winter and deflects solar heat in summer.
Warm-edge spacer
Reduces the cold bridge at the window's perimeter, where condensation and heat loss begin.
Energy Performance
Tested Energy Performance
Slider basement model CV-SF. Values from certified testing of Trust Build window systems using NRCan / ENERGY STAR® metrics — Energy Rating (ER), U-Value, and Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC).
| Glass Package | ER | U-Value | SHGC |
|---|---|---|---|
| Slider double (CV-SF) | 41 | 1.50 | 0.58 |
Slider values are certified. Higher ER and lower U-Value indicate better energy performance.
Why Basement Windows Suit Ontario Homes
Built for below-grade, engineered for the climate
Below-grade expertise
Engineered for moisture, limited light, and the tight openings common in Ontario basements.
Egress-ready sizing
We size and configure the right window and window well to meet the Ontario Building Code for habitable rooms.
Moisture protection
Frames, seals, and drainage designed for the wettest spot in the house.
Condensation resistance
Triple-pane glass with Super Spacer warm-edge spacer keeps the interior pane warmer and drier in winter.
Features
Built for Ontario, backed for life
Slider & hopper configurations
Single slider, lift-out double slider, top-opening hopper, and side-opening hopper.
Egress-ready options
Properly sized windows that meet the Ontario Building Code for habitable rooms.
Lift-out double slider sashes
Easy cleaning and a wider clear opening.
Moisture-resistant build
Frames and seals made for below-grade conditions.
Triple-pane glass unit
Cardinal IG, argon-filled, dual Low-E, Super Spacer warm-edge for condensation resistance.
Window wells & permits handled
Drainage, clearance, and approvals coordinated by our team.
Built for Ontario
Engineered to resist warping, cracking, and fading.
Where Basement Windows Work Best
The right window for every below-grade room
The right basement window depends on the room. A single slider or hopper is ideal for utility rooms, laundry areas, bathrooms, and storage — places that need light and a little ventilation but not an emergency exit. A lift-out double slider, sized for egress, is the go-to for finished basements and basement bedrooms, where the code requires a safe, legal escape route. Trust Build matches the configuration to the space and the code, then handles the well and permits so the whole project is compliant.
Customization
Configure your basement window to suit the opening
Choose the configuration that fits the opening — single slider, lift-out double slider, top-opening hopper, or side-opening hopper — then finish it with a range of exterior frame colours and specialty glass such as frosted for privacy in bathrooms and laundry rooms. For habitable rooms, we'll size the window and window well to meet egress requirements.
Rebates & Financing
Save more on your basement window upgrade
Home Renovation Savings™
ENERGY STAR® certified basement windows installed as part of an eligible upgrade may qualify for the Home Renovation Savings™ program — up to $100 per rough opening through the assessment stream, with a home energy assessment required before any work begins. The program sets eligibility and amounts; we'll explain how it applies to your home. Full details at homerenovationsavings.ca.
Check My Eligibility0% Financing for 12 Months
Spread the cost with 0% financing for 12 months through Financeit. No hidden fees, no surprises — just predictable monthly payments while you enjoy the comfort and value of new windows. We'll walk you through the application during your free estimate.
Glass & Security
Ground level — where the glass spec stops being optional
Basement windows are the single most common forced-entry point on an Ontario home. They sit at grade or below, they're often hidden from the street by landscaping, and the original builder-grade glass is usually single-pane in a hopper or slider frame. This is the one window category where we treat security glass as part of the standard recommendation, not an upgrade.
Trust Build's standard basement window spec is a triple-pane Cardinal IG with Low-E 272, tempered safety glass (required by code at this height), and a laminated inner pane for forced-entry resistance. Combined with a galvanised window well and the right egress sizing, the package transforms the basement from the home's weakest point into one of its most secure.
Triple pane + Low-E 272 + tempered
Standard on every Trust Build basement window. Tempered is code-required at this height.
Laminated inner pane
Strongly recommended — adds forced-entry resistance without changing the window's appearance from the street.
Impact-resistant laminated
Heaviest-duty option for finished basements, in-law suites and rental units.
Obscure or frosted glass
Privacy option for basement bathrooms and bedrooms at grade level.
Security Window Film: If you're not replacing your basement windows this season, Security Window Film is the single best one-day upgrade you can make to a home — it transforms a vulnerable ground-floor pane into a forced-entry-resistant barrier. Learn more about Security Film →
Comparing glass packages? See the full Glass Options guide, read our Low-E 180 vs 272 vs 366 explainer, or our double vs triple-pane comparison.
FAQ
Basement Window FAQ
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Frames, sashes, hardware and our workmanship — covered for as long as you own the home.
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Make your basement safe, bright, and code-compliant.
Get a free, no-obligation quote from Trust Build — ENERGY STAR® basement and egress windows, window wells, permits handled, expert installation by our own crews, and flexible financing.
- Detailed project assessment
- Written itemized quotation
- Product and installation recommendations
- Financing options available
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