Window Well Replacement: Why Savvy Homeowners Should Consider It
Some people don’t know the term “window well.” You won’t see them in every part of the country. However, you may notice that nearly every house has them in some regions.
You can always hire a window well contractor to replace your window wells if they’re not in the best condition. You might not know why this move makes sense as a homeowner, though.
We will talk about that in detail in the following article.
What Does the Term “Window Well” Mean?
First, let’s make sure that you understand the term “window well,” since not every homeowner may know it yet. The term window well means a recessed area, typically one that surrounds a basement window.
As previously mentioned, you won’t see window wells in some parts of the country. If you’re in a region where you see them, that usually means you have homes with windows slightly below ground level.
The recessed area around a window carries the term window well, but keep in mind that it’s not just a hole in the ground that someone dug haphazardly around the window in question. If a home has window wells, that probably means a professional contractor installed them.
If you have window wells, that usually allows the home’s builder to install larger windows below ground level that look in on the basement or the house’s subterranean level. You may want that because these windows will let in extra sunlight.
If you decide to finish your basement so that you can use it to entertain guests, you might get a contractor to install larger windows with protective window wells for that reason. If you want to have a studio space in your basement for photography or something similar, you might get them for that reason as well.
Do They Serve Any Other Purpose?
Some people also like to have larger windows at the basement level with window wells around them because they can escape through those windows if it ever becomes necessary. If there’s a fire, for instance, and the home’s residents can’t go back up the stairs and through the house, then they might leave through the windows, assuming they open wide enough for the family or their guests to escape.
Why Might You Replace Some of Your Window Wells?
As for why a homeowner might replace their window wells, it’s most common if those wells show their age or don’t maintain their structural integrity anymore. If you buy an older house, you may notice that the window wells don’t look very good anymore. Maybe they have visible cracks or they leak when it rains.
Over time, this can happen with window wells. If you have ones that a builder installed more than a couple of decades ago, then hiring a contractor to replace them makes a lot of sense.
If you get a contractor to install brand-new ones, that should lower your heating or cooling bills, since warm or cool air can’t escape as easily if you have the furnace or AC unit on. If you ever decide to sell your home and move on from it, you can also mention that you have new window wells when your realtor writes your home’s description.
How Can You Tell Whether You Should Replace Your Window Wells?
If you look at your window wells, you can often tell whether they’re close to needing a replacement. You might see visible rust or discoloration.
Even if the window wells look more or less okay, you may notice that they start to leak when it rains. If so, you will want to get a contractor to replace them as soon as you can.
If you have a finished basement, and the window wells leak, that can damage a carpet or anything else you have down there. You might have thousands of dollars of damage after a single rainstorm.
How Much Might Such a Project Cost?
If you decide to go ahead with window well replacement, that might cost you a sizeable chunk of money. However, you’ll likely not spend anywhere close to what you would if you needed to build a new deck or replace your roof.
The cost to replace some window wells varies, but you might expect to spend a few thousand dollars. Replacing each well may cost somewhere in the $500-$1,500 range. If you have more wells, and a larger basement, then obviously you are looking at a somewhat higher price tag.
