Frequently Asked Questions
Why are my window wells rusting?
Window wells rust because of electrolysis (decomposition produced by an electric current.) This means that a window well is rusting because it is touching other metal in your home -usually rebar in the foundation (via either the window buck or the well’s attachment bolts.) The window well is the least noble metal so it is the first metal the electric current breaks down. From our experience, the more moisture in the ground the faster the decomposition when electrolysis is present. Please note that just because a window well is touching the window buck does not mean it will rust – the rebar inside the foundation must be also be touching the buck to produce the electric current.
This video from Boman Kemp, the manufacturers of the wells we use, explains why your wells are rusting: https://youtu.be/BqOhNm4mIzk
How do I determine the correct window well height?
Window well height is very important. A window well should be mounted high enough that the dirt around it slopes away from the home. Each city has their own requirements, but the recommendation from the National Home Builders Association is that “lots shall be graded to drain surface water away from foundation walls. The grade shall fall a minimum of 6 inches within the first 10 feet.”
Savage Window Wells recommends that you slope the earth away from your window wells as much as possible.
We recommend that the well be mounted 3-4 inches above where the landscaping should be to provide a proper slope.
Bark and landscaping gravel do not provide slope because they drain water straight down instead of directing it away from the home. The earth beneath the landscaping material is what needs to be sloped.
If possible, your landscaping should be kept 6 inches down from the top of the foundation (where it meets the brick/stucco/siding) for pest and moisture control.
Are there building codes I need to meet?
If your home is required to meet egress (emergency escape) codes, your window well installation could be affected. You are generally required to meet egress if you are or are planning on renting your home basement out, or if you are doing a full basement remodel. Contact your city building office if you are not sure. The following code may provide some understanding, but is not meant to be your final resource.
****Please let us know if you need to meet egress codes at the time of your quote so we can make sure your new window wells and ladders will comply.****
Building Planning Codes
IRC Code Section R310
R310.2 Window wells. The minimum horizontal area of the window well shall be 9 square feet, with a minimum horizontal projection and width of 36 inches. The area of the window well shall allow the emergency escape and rescue opening to be fully opened.
Exception: The ladder or steps required by SectionR310.2.1 shall be permitted to encroach a maximum of 6 inches (152 mm) into the required dimensions of the window well.
R310.2.1 Ladder and steps. Window wells with a vertical depth greater than 44 inches (1118 mm) shall be equipped with a permanently affixed ladder or steps usable with the window in the fully open position. Ladders or steps required by this section shall not be required to comply with Sections R311.5 and R311.6. Ladders or rungs shall have an inside width of at least 12 inches (305 mm), shall project at least 3 inches (76 mm) from the wall and shall be spaced not more than 18 inches (457 mm) on center vertically for the full height of the window well.
Do I need a building permit?
In general, you do not need a building permit to have a window well replaced with a similar sized well because it does not deal with the structure of your home. It is the responsibility of the homeowner to check with their city building department to verify this for their specific job. We have not contacted every city in our working area, so we do not claim to have sure knowledge that a building permit is not needed.
How much gravel do I need?
How much gravel do I need in the bottom of my window well?
Gravel 4-6” deep is the bare minimum and is useful in draining away only small amounts of water. 12-18” deep is a good idea if you have had water problems. In much of the new construction the window well gravel goes all the way down to the footings, 3-4 feet deep! Since gravel only allows water to drain through, it is in essence forming a bucket to hold water. The deeper the gravel, the bigger the bucket. Deep gravel will not solve your flooding if you have drainage problems. It is not good for water to sit against the foundation of your home, even if it doesn’t come in through the window. No matter how big your bucket is, if water continuously flows into it, it will fill to capacity and overflow.
What are my color options?
The 18 Gauge steel window wells come in two color options “white” and “stacked stone.”
Stacked Stone
The stacked stone design is a painted design on the standard window well. It gives the appearance of stacked stone with the price and durability of steel. This is a great option!
White Well
Can I just paint my window well?
Your window wells are rusting because of electrolysis, so painting it will not help. The rust will push right through the paint (even Rust-Oleum) and begin to discolor and peel very quickly. If your window wells are not rusting, you can paint them.
What am I risking if I wait to repair or replace my wells?
The earlier you act, the better chance you have of preventing damage to your bucks (the metal around your window) and your basement. If you let the rust continue to weaken the well you are risking complete failure usually resulting in a basement flood and total damage to your bucks. In the case of a heavy downpour of rain (or sprinkler failure) the earth becomes saturated and extremely heavy – which is when the weakened window well will collapse with the pressure.
When this happens, the collapsed well creates a low spot to which water will flow – filling up your well until the window finally breaks from the pressure of the water and pours the water into your home. If the window does not break from the pressure, and depending on the state of your windows and how they were installed, the water will seep into your home. If you look closely at the above picture you can see the waterline about halfway up the window.
Another consideration is that most home inspectors will flag rusting window wells. If you are planning on selling or renting your home in the near future, it is a good idea to solve this problem before it is holding up a sale.
Will my new wells rust again after you install them?
No!
The window wells we install are galvanized metal (steel that has received a thin coating of zinc oxide. This protects the steel from elements that normally would lead to oxidation, corrosion, and to the eventual weakening of the steel.) As long as the wells are not subject to electrolysis they should last indefinably.
With every install we use a specialized voltage meter system to check that the window wells have no contact to the existing metal in your home. Checking for electrolysis insures against the possibility that one of the bolts we used to connect the new well is touching the rebar in your foundation. Since this cannot be seen, our testing is the only way to make sure you will not have rusting again in the very near future. If our testing indicates that electrolysis is occurring we will re-install the well (at no charge) to get it corrected.