How to Cut an Egress Window Into Concrete

Wash off as much dirt as possible from the concrete's surface with a garden hose. Mark out the egress window's rough opening requirements, according to the manufacturer, along the concrete's interior and exterior sides.

Score the outline with a 14-inch diamond saw blade installed in a circular saw. Make this first cut only about 1/4-inch deep and concentrate on making the cut as straight as possible. Go around the outline a second time, making the cut between 1 and 3 inches deep. Repeat on the concrete wall's opposite side.

Hit the concrete wall from inside with a sledgehammer to begin knocking out sections of the concrete. Begin in the outline's center and work your way out toward the edges. As you near the edges, the concrete wall should break away along the score lines.

Hold a masonry chisel against a rough area in the opening. Hit the chisel's handle with a hammer to drive the chisel through the rough area and remove it, smoothing the opening's surface. Work your way around the opening until you have smoothed the opening's edges as much as possible.