Window well covers

[bofa]

(basement newbie here)

Our new place has 4 window wells, 2 standard and 2 egress. It would seem to make sense to have them covered to keep us and the dogs from taking a dive, not to mention help prevent added moisture and debris from collecting in the wells. I'm thinking the polycarbonate covers would work best plus still allow light into the basement.

Anyone here have these covers? I started getting quotes locally and they are coming in around $1K for all 4. Is that reasonable or should I keep looking?

 

[SV_Dude]

I had them on my last house. They were just a steel grate that sat over the opening so big objects and animals don't fall in. Some guys that make them are very proud of them and they charge a lot for them. There's even a guy at the start of the road that my housing division is on that just sits there with his display of covers. His covers start at $250 a pop.

These covers are nothing more than a small steel frame and rebar welded into them. If you want something nice that will compliment your yard I would suggest you make your own. You can grab some metal (if you can weld) and make your own. OR... If you want to get creative (and are good with woor work) you can make your own and build a bench, small planter, etc over it and design it in a way that still allows the area underneath to breathe and lets sunlight in if you care about that. Get some good stain or paint to protect the wood and you're in business.

 

[bofa]

I had them on my last house. They were just a steel grate that sat over the opening so big objects and animals don't fall in. Some guys that make them are very proud of them and they charge a lot for them. There's even a guy at the start of the road that my housing division is on that just sits there with his display of covers. His covers start at $250 a pop.

These covers are nothing more than a small steel frame and rebar welded into them. If you want something nice that will compliment your yard I would suggest you make your own. You can grab some metal (if you can weld) and make your own. OR... If you want to get creative (and are good with woor work) you can make your own and build a bench, small planter, etc over it and design it in a way that still allows the area underneath to breathe and lets sunlight in if you care about that. Get some good stain or paint to protect the wood and you're in business.

Not sure I like the steel ones since you lose the benefit of keeping debris and moisture out. I thought about wood or even getting some composite decking and making a small deck for each of them, but then I'd lose out on most of the light. That option might still be on the table though because light is probably the least important factor since the basement is unfinished.

I've checked 3 places now, all in the $950-100 range for the poly covers, so I guess that's what I'm looking at.

When I originally started looking I found some decent ones in "standard" sizes for around $100 each, but these suckers are big.

 

[SV_Dude]

Unfortunately there isn't a 100% solution to keep moisture and debris out and still allow natural light to come in through the window. My last house only had natural light in the basement for a couple hours since the sun had to be in the right spot.

I wouldn't worry too much about moisture. It's dry enough here that with the little bit of water that will get down there will dry up quickly. If I were in your position I would do whatever would compliment the yard the best.

 

[RunninInGA]

I'm lost here...can't even picture in my mind what you're referring to?

 

[RunninInGA]

I'm lost here...can't even picture in my mind what you're referring to?

EDIT: you mean like this?


DOUBLE EDIT: Deleted massssssssive picture

 

[bofa]

Holy massive picture... :lol:

Yeah, sort of like that, although I prefer the "low profile" version.

 

[RunninInGA]

Holy massive picture... :lol:

Yeah, sort of like that, although I prefer the "low profile" version.

yeah, I wanted you to be able to see it without any problems...lols

 

[bofa]

Circling back to this... I ended up going with a local company that does a custom fit and usually offers deals in the junk mail ads. The total price for 4 covers ended up being just under $850. I think the price is pretty good. These wells are large (two 60x38 and two 60x25).