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Basements Windows

egress windows

last year

Hi,
I have two basement egress windows that open to the side yard. Is it better to have a small plant bed around it or cover that area with pavers so water drains off into the surrounding soil.
Am not concerned about privacy of the window.
Just concerned about water not going in the basement as these are new windows , we never had them before.
Thanks in advance

Featured Answer

PRO

Windows on Washington Ltd

last year

How is grading surrounding the wells? That is a far larger driver of water aggregating in the well than is the small amount that is falling into them from the atmosphere.

Comments (8)

oberon476
last year
Agree 100% with WoW.
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S G
Original Author
last year
There’s grading of the ground but I am not aware of how much
It’s only when there’s torrential rains that we have to be careful as wells fill up and then have the potential to overflow inside the basement
millworkman
last year
"It’s only when there’s torrential rains that we have to be careful as wells fill up"

So then most likely the grading is not up to par...........
PRO
Windows on Washington Ltd
last year
What he said. The well is not filling up from just the rain. You are getting a high water table, whether from gutters, grading, or other moisture management issues. If you put a plastic cover on the well, the same thing would happen if that other stuff isn't fixed.
S G
Original Author
last year
It’s possibly grading then as there are no gutters near it that would cause , wells are covered with plastic as well. My question is whether water would flow out better over pavers vs garden bed that may help with soaking it
PRO
Windows on Washington Ltd
last year
Doesn't really matter. If the pavers are based on tight joints...maybe the pavers, but I have never seen it make a difference. The pavers aren't waterproof and the water table is going to be the results of other factors than the surfaces immediately adjacent to the home/window.
worthy
last year
last modified: last year
The egress window wells should have had drains connecting to the weepers at the perimeter of the basement.

National Research Council of Canada

Assuming that there are weepers there.

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