Egress windows in Dell Rapids
Escape windows for an older river town and the rural acreages of northern Minnehaha County.
Dell Rapids is a Minnehaha County city on the Big Sioux River north of Sioux Falls, named for the river's rapids. It had 3,996 residents at the 2020 census. After a fire destroyed most of its wooden buildings in the 1880s, the town rebuilt in Sioux quartzite, the pinkish local stone that still gives the downtown its look.
What's different about older homes?
Older houses in town can have foundations that aren't poured concrete, and their basements often sit lower in the ground with smaller windows. Before anyone cuts, the contractor should identify what the wall is made of, how the house above bears on it, and whether an opening can be supported. In some cases a different wall, or a different room, is the better choice for the bedroom.
Acreages outside town
Farmhouses and acreage homes around Dell Rapids, Baltic, Colton and Garretson are outside city limits. Building permits for unincorporated parts of the county go through Minnehaha County Planning and Zoning in Sioux Falls. Bigger yards make room for wide wells, but they can also mean a long run for drainage if the house has no foundation drain tile.
Common jobs
- Assessing older foundations before cutting
- Egress windows for bedrooms in acreage home basements
- Replacing old corrugated wells
- Covers for wells exposed to open-country drifting snow
Common questions
Do you cover Baltic, Colton and Garretson?
Yes. Call with your address and we'll connect you with a contractor that serves it.
Who issues permits for a rural home in Minnehaha County?
For unincorporated areas, Minnehaha County Planning and Zoning in Sioux Falls. Inside a town, check with that city.
Services in Dell Rapids
- Egress window installationA complete escape window for a basement bedroom: excavation, cut, window, well and finish.
- Cutting and enlarging openingsSaw-cut poured or block foundation walls to create a new egress opening or enlarge an old window.
- Window wells and laddersNew and replacement egress wells sized for the window, with drainage and a ladder where needed.
- Window well coversClear, grated or custom covers that keep out snow, leaves and animals but still open from below.
- Basement bedroom code complianceBring an existing basement bedroom up to code for a remodel, rental or sale, with permit and inspection.
Nearby areas
Finishing the basement or adding a bedroom down there?
Call and get connected with a local contractor who cuts and installs egress windows.