Installing Foundation Window Wells

Window Well Installation

Installing window wells is a very good way of preventing unwanted water from entering into your basement windows. Window wells also allow the finish grade to be brought to an elevation higher than the window while still letting light into the window.

How To Install Window Wells

Window well installation is fairly easy for new construction and not all that more complicated for existing buildings. Window wells help keep sufficient grade separation around foundation windows. They should be properly drained to prevent basement flooding during wet periods. The following directions apply to both new and existing construction.

Set Window Well Elevation

First you’ll need to set an elevation for the window wells. I like to set the top of the window well at least 2 to 3 inches above finished grade. This ensures that water and debris don’t fall into the finished window well. It’s very important that the finished grade be no closer to the house siding than 8 or 9 inches. Therefore you’ll want to set the top of window well about 6 inches down from the siding.

Dig / Excavate For Window Wells

You’ll need to dig a hole twice the size and depth of the window well. Also, you should excavate a trench for a drainage pipe from the base of the window well out to “daylight” or connect it to a properly drained foundation drain. Once the drainage pipe is installed I like to install clean pea stone at least 12 inches deep below the base of the window well. You can also fill the bottom of the window well with a couple inches of stone as well.

Window Well Drainage

Window well installation must be properly drained or you risk having water run into your basement through the foundation windows during a rain event. The best way to drain window wells is to install a foundation drain with positive pitch (1% minimum) from the base of the window well to a location on your property that allows the drain to “daylight” and drain out onto the ground.

Sometimes it’s necessary to drain the window wells to the foundation drains (if they are properly drained to daylight) or you may need to connect them to a stone under-drain. At any rate this is extremely important and a step that must not be skipped.

Attach Window Wells To Foundation Walls

As you can see in the photo window wells have been installed at each foundation window. The window wells are fabricated from a heavy gauge galvanized steel. The window wells have mounting holes pre-drilled on each side. To install them we use TAPCON SLOTTED HEX HEAD MASONRY ANCHORS to attach the window wells to the concrete foundation wall. Once the window wells are attached to the concrete wall the ground can be back-filled in front of them.

That’s all there is to installing a window well. In the winter you may want to purchase Window Well Covers to keep snow and ice out of the window wells.