Window well covers can be hard to find

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 11/08/2002 (8507 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

After reading your articles in Sunday Homes, I wondered if you might be able to provide some insight as to where I might find a particular product. We have two window wells on either side of our house and have been concerned that one poses a definite threat to our two young children who constantly run down the sidewalk, to and from our backyard.

I would also like to minimize the accumulation of leaves and snow inside the wells. I have called Revy, The Home Depot and McDiarmid Lumber in hopes of locating the clear plastic covers that I have seen on other window wells around our neighbourhood and they have been of very little help. I hope that you might be able to recommend places where I might find them. The approximate dimensions of our wells are 3′ wide x 1′ deep.

— Krista Kirkness, e-mail

Answer: Since receiving this e-mail last fall, I have not had the opportunity to source the plastic window well covers requested, although I am very familiar with the type mentioned by Ms. Kirkness. I recently saw these covers on a visit to the Revy Home Centre on Sargent Avenue. I did not check specific sizes, but they had a selection of different sizes. I imagine that they are available at other Home Centres and perhaps they have begun to stock them due to requests from customers.

This question has given me the opportunity to discuss the function of window wells and to provide advice for maintenance. The need for these wells is often misunderstood by many homeowners, and is a common source of complaints. Window wells are often constructed of corrugated galvanized metal, concrete or treated lumber and serve one simple purpose. They protect basement windows from moisture damage and leakage due to contact with the soil around the foundation. Many basement windows are partially below grade, after initial backfilling, and would easily rot or leak if the soil surrounding the home were up against them. Window wells may also be added to a home when the soil in this area settles and erodes, over time, and requires building up higher than the original backfilling.

Due to the nature of the “hole” created when wells are present, they may cause several problems. The most common complaint is the wells filling with water during heavy rains. In extreme cases, these can overflow into the windows they are supposed to be protecting, and increase, rather that decrease the chances of moisture intrusion into the basement. The bottoms of the wells are lower than the surrounding soil, and can create a “pool” for rain build-up if not properly sealed to the foundation. Care should be taken to caulk or seal the connection of the window well to the foundation, which often opens up due to soil movement. This will help prevent water seepage into this depression from the surrounding soil. Many window wells have a drainage pipe installed to channel water to the weeping tiles near the bottom of the foundation walls, should the wells fill with water. This pipe may be filled or covered with stone and sometimes has a metal grate over top. These can become clogged with dirt, leaves or debris and are a common cause of water intrusion through basement windows, when plugged. To prevent this, the pipes should be regularly cleaned or flushed out with a garden hose, and debris removed from the wells.

The plastic covers, mentioned by Ms. Kirkness, do keep debris from filling these areas and prevent rain from entering the well. Their only drawback is blockage of air to the basement windows. The widows are provided primarily for ventilation and should be opened during mild weather to increase airflow into the basement. In many homes this is the primary method of ventilation for basements, which can help clear out damp, stale air in this area.

As a protection for children falling in the wells, I would approach this use with caution. The majority or plastic covers I have seen are thin and rather flimsy, and may not resist a person or even a small child falling against it. They normally sit in place and can be easily moved or dislodged, providing little protection. If safety is the primary concern, a custom made metal cover or grate may be a better solution. I have seen many of these installed and they provide protection against injury as well as preventing large leaves and debris from filling the well. If the spaces in the grate are large enough, they will provide ventilation for the basement window, as well. The downside of the metal grates or covers is the lack of a source for purchase. I have not seen these mass-produced, and it is unlikely they can be located locally. A call or visit to a welding shop or metal works company with proper window well dimensions may provide answers and prices.

Ari Marantz is owner/inspector of Trained Eye Home Inspection Ltd. and is the PR Rep. for the Canadian Association of Home Inspectors- Manitoba (www.cahi.mb.ca). Questions can be e-mailed or sent to: Ask The Inspector, P. O. Box 69021, #110-2025 Corydon Ave., Winnipeg, MB. R3P 2G9. Ari can be reached at (204) 291-5358.

trainedeye@iname.co