Home Addition Contractor in Northern Virginia
When a house stops fitting, there are two ways out. Buy a bigger one, with the agent fees, the transfer taxes, the mortgage rate you'd be trading into and the months of looking. Or build the space you're missing onto the house you already like, in the neighborhood you already chose.
Planning is what separates the additions that go smoothly from the ones that don't. Setbacks, lot coverage, how the new roof meets the old one, where the load goes — all of that gets settled on paper before demolition, and you stay in control of the design the whole way through.
We build additions across Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William counties. JK General holds a Virginia Class A license, which means there's no cap on project size and a full second-story build is squarely within what we're licensed to take on.
Our Egress Window Process
01
Site Assessment
We check the foundation, grade and drainage to confirm where the opening can go.
02
Permit & Proposal
Scope and price on paper, county permit pulled before any cutting starts.
03
Excavation & Cut
The well is dug out and the foundation opening cut to the size the window requires.
04
Window, Well & Drainage
Window set, well installed and tied into drainage, then backfilled and inspected.
Choosing Your Window & Well
Casement Window
Swings fully open on a hinge, which usually clears the required opening in a smaller overall window.
Sliding Window
Opens sideways and suits wider, shorter openings where headroom below the joists is tight.
Corrugated Metal Well
The standard galvanized well — economical, quick to install and easy to fit with a cover.
Composite Well
Molded panels with built-in steps, which read better from the yard and don't rust.
Poured or Stone-Faced Well
Concrete or masonry finished to match the house, for wells that sit somewhere visible.
Well Cover
A clear cover keeps rain, leaves and debris out while still releasing from inside.
FAQs
What size does the window have to be?
Code requires a net clear opening of at least 5.7 square feet, a minimum opening height of 24 inches, a minimum width of 20 inches, and a sill no more than 44 inches above the floor. Net clear opening means the actual space you can climb through with the window fully open, not the size of the unit.
Are there requirements for the well too?
The well needs a horizontal area of at least 9 square feet with a projection and width of at least 36 inches, and wells deeper than 44 inches require a permanent ladder or steps.
Do I need a permit?
Yes. Cutting a foundation wall is structural work and requires a county permit and inspection. We handle both.
Can you cut into a poured concrete foundation?
Yes, and block as well. The opening gets a proper header so the wall above is supported. This is the part of the job worth hiring out rather than attempting.
Will the well flood?
Not if it's built right. The well gets gravel and drainage tied into the foundation system, which is where most leaky installs go wrong.
How long does it take?
Most installs run a few days on site, with permit scheduling usually the longest part.
Get an Estimate On Your Egress Window
Tell us what you're envisioning for your basement. Estimates are free.