How To Build A Retaining Wall Egress Window Well

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Window wells attach to your home'southward foundation around ground-level windows to prevent h2o and soil from getting inside. When you want to install a window well, start by digging holes around the window for the well and a drain so information technology doesn't make full with water. Once yous dig the holes, mount the window well onto your home to secure it in place around the window. When yous're finished, your window will be protected from any h2o trying to arrive!

1
Measure the size of your window so you know how big of a well you need. Measure the top and width of your window with a record measure then you know the dimensions. Add 8 inches (20 cm) to the height and half-dozen inches (xv cm) to the width measurement you took so the well can fit around the outside of the window.
- For instance if you accept a window that'southward 12 inches (30 cm) broad by thirty inches (76 cm) tall, then y'all need a well that'due south at to the lowest degree 38 inches (97 cm) tall and 18 inches (46 cm) broad.
two
Find a prefabricated well that fits your window. Window wells come up in various styles and so choose 1 that matches the remainder of your dwelling house. Option either a plastic or steel window well for the about durable materials. If y'all have wells on other ground-level windows, become a matching well for the new one that you're installing.
- You tin can buy window wells from your local hardware or home improvement store.
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3
Dig a hole that's slightly wider and deeper than the well. First your hole side by side to your dwelling house'southward foundation most vi inches (15 cm) from the side of your window. Shovel the dirt into a wheelbarrow or tarp so it'south easy to ship away from the pigsty. Go along digging around the window until the hole is about 4–5 inches (10–13 cm) deeper than the bottom of the window sill and 6 inches (15 cm) wider than the well.
- Contact your utility companies before you start digging to check for whatsoever power, gas, or water lines where you plan on putting the window well.
iv
Use an auger to diameter through the ground to the gravel nether your foundation. Augers are large drills that assistance dig directly holes in the basis. Position the finish of the auger in the center of the hole you just dug to place your bleed. Plow the auger on and push button information technology slowly into the ground so it bores down nearly 1 human foot (30 cm). Pull the auger out from the ground to make clean off whatever dirt on the blades. Proceed digging out ane foot (thirty cm) at a time until you reach a layer of gravel under your home.^[1]
- If y'all don't take an auger, then you can apply a shovel simply it may be more difficult to intermission through the ground.
Tip: Cheque if your local hardware store offers equipment rentals so you don't have to buy an auger.
5
Put a perforated tube with a bleed cap in the hole so the well can drain. Wait for a perforated tube with a four–five in (10–13 cm) diameter at your local hardware store. Measure the depth of the drain hole and get a tube that's the same length. Place the tube in the center of the drain hole and drain cap on top so clay and gravel tin't get within and clog it.^[2]
- You can purchase bleed caps from your local hardware store.
- If you tin't find a pipe with perforation, then cutting 2 in (5.1 cm) long slits on each side every i ft (30 cm) along the piping's length.
- The drain tube will assist divert water out of the well toward your home'south weeping tile, which is the undercover drainage pipe that moves h2o away from your abode.
6
Backfill the hole around the tube with gravel. Make sure the tube is centered in the bleed hole and hold information technology in identify. Pour gravel around the outside of the tube to provide amend drainage for the well and to hold the tube in place. Go on packing gravel into the hole until it's level with the drain cap.^[3]
- You can purchase bags of gravel from habitation improvement or landscaping stores.

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1
Set up the window well against your foundation then information technology'south level. Put the window well in the hole you dug and push it firmly against the walls of your foundation. Brand sure that the edges of the sides of the well are well-nigh three inches (seven.vi cm) from either side of the window, and check that the superlative of the well extends 2–3 inches (5.1–7.six cm) above the dirt. Gear up a level on elevation of the well to come across if it's straight, and pack dirt underneath the lower side if you demand to.^[iv]
- Ask someone to help you lift and set the well in place if it's too heavy to safely lift on your own.
- If the window well is closer than 6 inches (15 cm) to your siding, dig your hole deeper until you have a 6 in (15 cm) buffer.
2
Marking the location of the predrilled holes on your foundation with a marking. Hold the window well tightly against your home and use a marker to put dots on your foundation in the center of each hole. Check that the window well doesn't shift effectually while you're making your marks or else the holes won't line up when you try to attach the well after on. Afterward y'all draw all of the marks, accept the window well out of the hole.
- If your window well doesn't already have holes drilled in the sides, and then y'all may demand to make your own holes. Utilize a ³⁄_eight in (0.95 cm) drill bit meant for metallic or plastic depending on what your well is made from, and infinite your holes well-nigh five inches (13 cm) apart downwards each side.
three
Drill 2 in (five.1 cm) pilot holes in the foundation with a masonry bit. Utilize a ^three⁄₈ in (0.95 cm) masonry bit in a hammer drill to cutting through your foundation. Hold the drill flake straight confronting one of your marks on the foundation and turn it on to cut through the concrete. Make the holes about 2 inches (5.1 cm) deep so the anchors can easily fit within. Continue drilling holes at each of your marks forth the foundation wall.^[five]
- Put on a pair of prophylactic glasses so you don't get hurt while drilling the holes.
- You can use a regular rotary drill, but it will take longer and may harm the machine.
- Check your local hardware store to see if they rent hammer drills and so y'all don't demand to buy one.
four
Screw the window well into place using masonry anchors. Use masonry anchors that are ^three⁄_viii in (0.95 cm) in diameter and 1 ^vii⁄₈ in (4.8 cm) long. Unscrew the nuts from the ballast sleeves and slide the sleeves into the holes you drilled. Position the window well in forepart of the sleeves and screw the nuts dorsum into the sleeves. Tighten the nuts with a socket wrench so the window well stays firmly in place.^[6]
- You can buy masonry anchors from your local hardware shop.
Warning: Don't employ regular wood screws to mount the window well since they could easily come loose.
5
Utilise a line of caulk around the well if you desire additional protection. Caulking around the sides can help seal the window well from water to preclude more leaks. Load the caulk into a dispenser and clasp the trigger to apply information technology. Work around the sides of the window well with a sparse line of caulk to seal information technology.^[vii]
- You don't need to caulk around the sides of the window well if you lot don't desire to.

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1
Fill the bottom 2–3 in (5.1–7.6 cm) of the window well with gravel. Pour the gravel around the inside and outside of your window well, and pack information technology downward with the bottom of your shovel. Spread the gravel evenly over the surface area so you take a two–3 in (5.1–vii.6 cm) layer at the lesser of the hole. Make sure the layer of gravel is lower than the window sill or else information technology could leak into your home.
- The gravel will assist improve the window well's drainage and then water doesn't pool upwardly or flood into your basement.
Tip: Yous can put a layer of landscaping fabric between the dirt and gravel if you don't want them to mix in the future.
ii
Pack clay around the exterior of the well until yous fill the hole. Use the clay y'all originally dug up around the side of your home to fill in the hole. Pour near 1 pes (thirty cm) of dirt along the outside of the well, and press information technology downward with your foot to pack information technology tightly. Proceed alternating between adding 1 foot (xxx cm) of dirt and tamping it downwards then the soil around the well is tightly packed. Leave the height 2–3 inches (v.1–7.6 cm) of the window well exposed and then water and dirt can't leak into it.
- If you can't fit your foot in the hole to pack the dirt in, use a hoe or a tamper to printing the dirt downwardly.
3
Secure a encompass on acme of the well to prevent anything from getting inside. Get a window well cover that matches the size of your window well and place it over the opening. If you want the cover permanently installed, brand holes in your foundation with a hammer drill and a masonry bit before securing the encompass in place with anchors. If you don't want it permanently installed, lay a heavy piece of forest or rock on top of the cover so it doesn't blow away.^[8]
- Yous can purchase window well covers from your local hardware or abode improvement stores.
- You don't need to put on a window well encompass if you don't desire one.

Add New Question

Question

How deep should the well be from the top of the window?

The distance between the top of window to the top of well can vary. However, at that place should be a gap between the bottom of the siding and the top of the well. The top of the well should sit a few inches above the ground.
Question

Nosotros are replacing rusted out window wells. Do we need to practice annihilation different to remove old ones?

If the steel wells are rusted out, it is well-nigh probable that the bolts holding it to the wall are rusted into the wall. The best solution is to raise the new well above the erstwhile bolt holes, unless the new window well has unlike hole locations.
Question

How far from the bottom of the window should the gravel be>

The gravel should exist 4" below the window well to permit rain water to get in to the drain.
Question

What type of bolts do I use?

I used one/4" x1 3/4" flathead tapcons spaced 6" apart in the valleys of the galvanized steel window well. They're very secure. I painted the wall with a foundation coating first.
Question

Do window wells need to be perfectly level when installing them?

No. I would make sure information technology is direct in comparison to the bottom border of the siding on your business firm (which is probably pretty close to level anyways). Level doesn't thing as much as making sure it doesn't Wait kleptomaniacal.

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Cheers for submitting a tip for review!

Check with local utility companies before you dig to ostend there aren't any power, gas, or h2o lines where yous want to put your window well.
Clothing safe glasses whenever y'all drill into concrete to protect your eyes.

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Things You'll Need

Tape Measure out
Window well
Shovel
Wheelbarrow
Auger
Perforated tube with a drain cap
Gravel
Marker
Hammer drill with a ³⁄₈ in (0.95 cm) masonry flake
Masonry anchors
Caulk
Caulk gun
Window well comprehend

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Article Summary X

If you want to install a window well, start by buying a prefabricated well that matches the dimensions of the window. Next, dig a hole that'southward slightly wider and deeper than the well and bore through the ground to the gravel under the foundation with an auger. Put a perforated tube with a drain cap in the pigsty so the well can drain and backfill the hole with gravel. Then, nestle the window well in the hole and push it firmly confronting the walls of your foundation. Use a marker to mark the center of each predrilled hole and drill the pilot holes into the foundation with a masonry bit. Finally, screw the window well into place using masonry anchors and tighten the nuts with a socket wrench. For tips on filling around the newly-installed well, read on!

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