Egress Window vs. Glass Block: Which Does Your Basement Need?

Start with one question: is it a bedroom?

This is the deciding factor. If the basement room is — or will be — a bedroom or sleeping room, Ohio code requires an egress window. There's no way around it. If the room is not a bedroom (a rec room, storage, laundry, mechanicals), you're free to choose whatever window makes the most sense, and glass block is often the best value.

When egress is the right choice

Choose a full egress window when:

• You're finishing a basement bedroom or any habitable sleeping space (required by code).
• You want maximum natural light and ventilation in the basement.
• You're adding living space you want to count toward your home's value at resale.
• Safety is the priority — you want a true emergency exit.

When glass block is the right choice

Choose glass block when:

• The window doesn't need to be an emergency exit (not a bedroom).
• You're replacing old, drafty, rusted, or insecure steel or wood-framed windows.
• Security and energy efficiency matter and you want low maintenance.
• You want a faster, more affordable upgrade — most are done in a single day with no excavation.

Cost and disruption compared

Glass block is typically a direct replacement with no digging, so it's far less expensive and usually finished in one day. Egress requires excavation, cutting the foundation, a window well, and drainage, so it costs more and takes one to two days — but it's the only option that makes a basement bedroom legal and safe.

Many homeowners do both: an egress window for the new bedroom, and glass block for the remaining basement windows. We'll walk your basement and give you an honest recommendation for each opening.