how to install window wells.
#1
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how to install window wells.
never did this before and i want to do it right. i have to bring the grade up some but in order to do that i need to install some window wells or else i will be piling dirt up against the windows. which im not going to do. i will be digging out below the window and replacing the dirt with pea gravel i just need to know what is the best way to attach the well to the brick wall. any help would be greatly appreciated
#2
I've found that you need to excavate the hole larger than needed so as to attach the mounting bracket. I've had good luck using 1/4 x 1 1/4" tapcons with hex heads. The 3/16" tapcons strip out too easy IMO.
You'll want to set a level across the window well to get it nice and straight or it will look goofy. Dig the hole about 6" deeper than needed, making it deeper toward the front of the window well. Fill the bottom of the hole w/ gravel. Backfill the outside of the window well with gravel as well, only adding topsoil around the top 3-4 inches.
You'll want to set a level across the window well to get it nice and straight or it will look goofy. Dig the hole about 6" deeper than needed, making it deeper toward the front of the window well. Fill the bottom of the hole w/ gravel. Backfill the outside of the window well with gravel as well, only adding topsoil around the top 3-4 inches.
#3
In addition, if at all possible, provide a positive drain for the well. Sometimes it isn't possible, but a really hard rain may test your pea gravel base, and if it loses, then the water will fill up the well, and make for a very unhappy window day. Since you are doing a fill, I would possibly consider a dry well away from the foundation.
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could you go into more detail on the positive drain? we recently had one of our basement window wells fill up with water during a particularly hard rain which led to a nice wet basement. I'm looking at how I can prevent this from happening again so any details you can give would be helpful.
#5
Yes, in the bottom of the well, you would install a 4" drain and dig a trench away from the foundation, either to a drainage area or into a drywell. The piping will be 4" "perf" pipe with a layer of gravel underneath it, and as much as you can around it before back filling.
#6
how to install window wells.
You must have a positive way of carrying water away from a window well.
The ideal way is to collect it in a gravel base and drain it down to your foundation drain tile area where there will be a means of disposal.
If this is not a possiblity, carry it away in a pipe with a positve drainage away from the house. Do not use a perforated pipe to carry water since it will just collect more water and could possibly cause a back flow. - Solid to carry water and perforated for collecting!
Anytime you trench away from a foundation. makes sure the trench slope is away from the foundation and has an "outlet" (daylight or a an adequate dry well).
All trenches are possible sources of collecting water and providing a route back to the foundation are where it can collect and leak into a basement. Utility and service trenches are prime examples where water flow can be collected, possibly obstructed and flow backward to the foundation.
Dick
The ideal way is to collect it in a gravel base and drain it down to your foundation drain tile area where there will be a means of disposal.
If this is not a possiblity, carry it away in a pipe with a positve drainage away from the house. Do not use a perforated pipe to carry water since it will just collect more water and could possibly cause a back flow. - Solid to carry water and perforated for collecting!
Anytime you trench away from a foundation. makes sure the trench slope is away from the foundation and has an "outlet" (daylight or a an adequate dry well).
All trenches are possible sources of collecting water and providing a route back to the foundation are where it can collect and leak into a basement. Utility and service trenches are prime examples where water flow can be collected, possibly obstructed and flow backward to the foundation.
Dick
#7
The reason perf pipe was mentioned was to collect extraneous water from the area as well as the positive flow from the well. But you are right, the downline pipe should be solid.