Are Exterior Basement Window Wells Necessary?

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Quick answer: If you have a basement window that is fully or partially below grade, you will need a window well to prevent leaking and help bring in light. If the basement window is in a habitable room, then you will need a window well and window that conforms to IRC Building Code emergency egress requirements.

The window well protects the basement window from being covered by dirt and lets natural light enter your basement.

are exterior basement window wells necessary?

It’s important to have a source of natural light and fresh air in a downstairs room, but windows at ground level are prone to springing leaks. Window wells and well covers are a no-brainer solution to keeping your basement comfortable and dry. You’d probably recognize a window well even if it doesn’t sound familiar.

Window wells are an essential part of the basement finishing process. It’s a necessary sub-project that will allow you to turn your basement into a beautiful and functional living area. WMGB Home Improvement is the leading basement egress window well expert in our local area. Today, we will explain why window wells are important and how they work:

Are window wells necessary for all buildings? Sure, but that’s not all you need. Without a window well cover, your well won’t protect your basement. An open window well is also a danger to your family and pets, who may step or fall in. If your window well cover can’t withstand the weight of an impact, that can be as bad as not having one.


⏯ – Window Wells


⚡Similar questions on request: “are exterior basement window wells necessary?”⚡

Are window wells important?

to prevent moisture damage to basement windows that are at or below grade. The window wells keep the soil away from openings in the foundation walls while still allowing proper grading and drainage away from the house; and. to allow sunlight into a below-grade room that would otherwise require artificial lighting.
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www.nachi.org.

Are window wells a good idea?

Basement windows and window wells are a good way to allow natural light into your home. Natural light will open up your space and take your basement from dark and dreary to bright and inviting. Window well materials come in a variety of beautiful stone and metal finishes, which can even add exterior charm to your home.
👉 www.eppconcrete.com.

Does a window well need a drain?

Window Well Drain – Every window well should have a drain to allow water to exit the window well and not build to a level that creates a basement seepage problem. Drains can be connected to interior or exterior drain tile or can be run to daylight where a proper slope exists.
👉 www.uswaterproofing.com.

Should window well be attached to foundation?

The answer is yes, your window wells definitely need to be attached to the foundation of your home. This is mostly for safety reasons. Depending on where you live, your window wells can brave some pretty harsh elements.
👉 www.windowellexpressions.com.

Should I put rocks in my window well?

After digging out the hole to install your well, you fill it with gravel or broken rock chunks to support the window well itself, improve drainage and prevent damaging frost heaves in the winter. The same gravel or rock is used as a base of the floor inside the egress well.
👉 blog.egresswindows.com.

Can you cover up window wells?

Window well covers are sheets of material, usually metal or plastic, designed to fit over window wells and prevent people or animals from falling in. They're also meant to keep rainwater and snow from collecting in window wells, where they could cause basement flooding.
👉 www.familyhandyman.com.

Should I put pea gravel in my window wells?

For valid product warranty, Window Wells must be installed with the Marflex installation kit and in accordance with the current Marflex installation instructions. Use pea gravel or ¾ inch or smaller free-draining rock, around the well stopping approximately 1 foot down from the top of the window well.
👉 www.mar-flex.com.

How do you keep water out of a window well?

Here's what you can do to keep as much water away from your house as possible:

  1. Fix grading to make sure it slopes away from the foundation.
  2. Keep your gutters clear of debris and in good working condition. …
  3. Extend downspouts away from the house to keep roof runoff from pouring next to the foundation.

Apr 1, 2019
👉 www.basementsystems.com.

How far down should a window well go?

Now, it's time to begin digging the hole in which you'll place the window well. Start digging the hole about six inches from the exterior of the window. The hole needs to be five inches deeper and six inches wider than the original window well dimensions you recorded.
👉 windowwellsupply.com.

What do you put at the bottom of a window well?

The bottom of the well should contain loose gravel, which also helps with drainage. This should not be allowed to become too compacted or it will also cause water to collect in the well. You can either replace gravel periodically or remove it and clean it before putting it back in place.
👉 www.wcmanet.org.

How do I keep water out of my basement window wells?

Here's what you can do to keep as much water away from your house as possible:

  1. Fix grading to make sure it slopes away from the foundation.
  2. Keep your gutters clear of debris and in good working condition. …
  3. Extend downspouts away from the house to keep roof runoff from pouring next to the foundation.

Apr 1, 2019
👉 www.basementsystems.com.

Should you cover window wells in winter?

After melting, the water can seep into the basement and promote mold growth. Cleaning around the window well can be dangerous, especially when it's covered by snow and ice. That means you need to make sure to cover your window well before every winter.
👉 windowwellexperts.com.

How high should rocks be in window well?

The best solution is to raise the new well above the old bolt holes, unless the new window well has different hole locations. The gravel should be 4" below the window well to allow rain water to make it to the drain.
👉 www.wikihow.com.

How do I stop rain from getting into my basement windows?

So, if you find that your basement window is causing an ongoing leak, here are 5 tips that can fix the problem.

  1. Caulk Basement Windows. …
  2. Install and Maintain Window Wells. …
  3. Inspect Downspouts and Gutters. …
  4. Install New Windows. …
  5. Evaluate Grading.

Oct 26, 2018
👉 www.affordablewaterproofingllc.com.

How do basement window wells drain?

You need a pump to drain the water as soon as the weather conditions allow it. Depending on numerous factors but mostly on the quality of your window well, basement window and foundation insulation, you can use a wet/dry vacuum to remove the water or rent a pump to siphon off the water in your well.
👉 windowwellexperts.com.

Why do my window wells fill up with water?

Weeds, leaves, dirt, and other debris clog window wells, causing them to fill with water. The water then leaks through the window and into the basement.
👉 www.basementsystems.com.

How deep should the gravel be in a window well?

Manufacturers of the metal window well suggest digging deeper into the well and placing 12 inches of gravel at the bottom. This will allow the water to dissipate into the ground slowly. This simple project along with a cover for your metal window well will stop the water from seeping into your foundation.
👉 windowbubble.com.

Can a mouse get out of a window well?

Other animals like mice or rabbits may be running through your yard and not see the well before it's too late. If your window well is shallow, two feet deep or less, get a piece of wood that is about a foot wide and put it in your window well as a ramp so the animal can climb out.
👉 www.windowellexpressions.com.

Can mice get in through window wells?

Chipmunks, sparrows, mice and other small animals can find themselves trapped in a window well, unable to get out. You'll have the inconvenience of getting them out which can be very dangerous or expensive.
👉 www.4feldco.com.

Should window wells be filled with gravel?

The bottom of the well should contain loose gravel, which also helps with drainage. This should not be allowed to become too compacted or it will also cause water to collect in the well. You can either replace gravel periodically or remove it and clean it before putting it back in place.
👉 www.wcmanet.org.


⏯ – How to build a Window Well with 4x4s – Creating a Basement Apartmen (part 10of11)


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