Tools and Materials

Tools

Materials

Note

Product costs, availability and item numbers may vary online or by market.

Why Install Window Wells for Basement Windows?

If you have a home with windows at or near ground level, such as basement windows, window wells can:

Allow more daylight into your living space
Improve ventilation
Keep dirt and mud away from your windows
Reduce concerns of window leaks

Once the window wells are in place, you can add plastic window well covers that provide more protection from water and debris while still allowing daylight to reach your windows.

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Window Well Installation

A window well with a window well cover installed on a home and surrounded by grass.

Since it requires digging around your foundation, fastening the window wells to the foundation and dealing with drainage, this project is best for highly experienced do-it-yourselfers or professional contractors. It requires a good deal of physical labor to dig out the space for the wells and careful work to ensure they’re installed correctly and can drain properly.

We’ll show you general steps for installing window wells below, but different window wells will have their own specific instructions. If you’re not confident about the work, leave it to a professional and use these steps to get a good understanding of the work the pro will do.

Preparing for Window Wells

There are several things you need to do before you begin digging.

Call 811 and have underground utilities marked. This may take a few days and, in some cases, you may need to contact one or two utilities separately, so plan ahead. Don’t dig around utilities.
Check building codes. If you’re installing an egress window well designed to work with egress windows for an emergency exit, check fire codes as well. Follow all applicable codes. A permit and inspection may be necessary.
Measure your windows and chose window wells that are the correct size. Typically, window wells should be 6 inches wider than the window they surround and 8 inches taller.
Enlist a helper. Even if your window wells aren’t heavy, they’ll probably be large and unwieldy. You’ll need someone to help maneuver them or hold them in place while you check for level, secure them, etc.
Make sure the ground slopes away from the installation area.

How to Install a Window Well

Mark an area about 4 or 5 inches beyond each side of the window and extending out far enough to fit your window well. Dig out the area to a depth that will allow the top edge of the window well to rest about 3 inches above ground level. You’ll need about three inches of gravel at the bottom of the well for drainage. The top of this gravel layer must be an inch or more below the window sill. Keep some of the dirt nearby to use as backfill once you place the window well.

For some installations you’ll need to dig deep enough to allow the window well to rest on a bed of gravel. In this type of installation you’ll add the gravel now, but you still need to make sure the window sill will be several inches above the level of the gravel.

Some window well instructions may specify installation of a pipe that drains from the well space to your foundation’s drainage system. For example, you may need to use an earth auger to bore from the bottom of the window well location to the gravel drainage bed under the home foundation. For this type of installation, stand up a length of drainage pipe in the hole and install a drain grate cap that will allow water to enter at the top of the pipe. Backfill the drain hole with gravel to the level of the drain cap.

Backfill the area around the exterior of the window well. Depending on your window well, you may need to use soil or gravel topped off with a few inches of soil. In some areas gravel may be necessary to reduce the risk of frozen soil pushing the well upward. Check the documentation for your window well for specific information. Build up the fill material evenly around the well — don’t fill in one side and then another. Make sure the soil slopes away from the well when you’re done.

Tip

If you’re using soil backfill, tamp it down as you go to make sure it will hold the structure in place solidly and not settle.

Installing Window Wells

Adding window wells around basement or other foundation windows is a big project that’s often best left to a pro, but it’s a good way to get more use from windows that are near ground level.

When determining window well installation cost, you’ll need to consider several factors, including the number and sizes of window wells you need, as well as window well material — metal, plastic or vinyl. And of course you’ll have installation costs if you choose professional installation. If you choose to handle installation yourself, you should also factor in any tools you need.

If you’re wondering where to buy window wells, keep in mind that Lowe’s offers a wide selection of sizes and types. And if you’re not sure about which type will work best with your home, a Lowe’s associate can help you make the best choice.

How to Install Window Wells