Basement Window Well

Window wells are small structures positioned outside ground-level/semi-basement windows that allow more light to enter and keep soil and water away from window. Usually a few feet or a meter deep and filled with a small layer of gravel to drain the well. Window wells are both practical and decorative. Installing a basement window well allows you to increase natural lighting in a lower level or basement and turn it in a comfortable place.

If you're thinking about remodeling your house then one aspect you should consider would be safety. After you're done choosing new fabrics and matching colors just stop for a second and think how safe your house really is?

Safety is the main reason for installing a basement window well. If there were ever an emergency, the occupants can safely leave the basement, or emergency crews can enter the basement. Here are some examples of basement windows wells:

-The Mesh cover is built with an expanded metal top. This pattern makes it perfect for keeping out debris, as well as keeping children and pets safe. It can have an unique vinyl coating applied, giving it extra durability against the elements.
-The Classic cover is ideal for strength and durability. It's also a great looking cover and compliments any landscape! It's built using the InnerFIT system; with a 2" angle iron frame and.5" square tubing, giving it the strength to hold over 750 lbs!

-The polycarbonate cover is perfect for keeping out debris, rain and snow. As part of the InnerFIT system, the polycarbonate cover can be built with vertical backings to cover windows that rise above the window well.

So, best thing to do is to install basement window wells on your home today and enjoy the comfort of knowing you're even more protected.

If you decide to install by yourself a window well and don't call a professional then you should know two important thing: Small-scale window installation should not require any special permission from municipal authorities. If your project is larger, however, make sure that you are in compliance with relevant building codes. Remember to check your window well for water accumulation. The purpose of the gravel is to improve drainage, but poor window well installation or a bad grade can actually produce the opposite effect.

If you want to do the job on your own here are the steps you need to take: Take your prefabricated window well and place it against your ground-level window to get an idea of the area you need to dig out and then dig your hole. Cover the bottom of the hole with 4 inches (or 10 cm) of gravel and place the window well against the foundation. Mark where your bolts will go into the foundation and then drill into the foundation at the spots marked. Secure the window well into the foundation with bolts and fill the bottom of the well and the perimeter between the well and the edge of your hole with a few inches (or 10 cm) of gravel. If there is any excess area around the window well fill it with soil and remember that you can always call a professional to do a good job and save you the trouble.

Exposed basement window wells can be a danger for anyone or anything that passes them. An uncovered basement window well makes for an easy place for animals to fall into and become trapped. They are also a place where children can fall and injure themselves, especially if they do not know that the window well is there.

There are safety measures that you can take to prevent humans and animals from getting injured in and around basement window wells. The easiest and simplest way to prevent injuries from occurring with your window well is to cover it. Before we get into how to prevent injuries, we'll discuss five risks that come with exposed basement window wells.

Children, adults, and animals can fall and get trapped and/or injured.
Trapped animals can damage the windows and screens while attempting to escape.
Basement window wells fill up with leaves and other debris.