HERE’S HOW WE DO IT

Many exotic repair methods exist relating to window wells, installations and remediation, but none of these repairs have stood the test of time. The notion of ‘covering’ the window well opening with plastic covers or drilling holes from the interior to ‘drain’ the window well itself is just disastrous. Below-grade window openings and/or venting are naturally susceptible to water infiltration and damage by mother nature. The concept is to prevent the water from reaching the concrete foundation wall in the first place. A vertical drain within the window well will direct the water below grade to the weeping tile before reaching the foundation wall.

THE VERTICAL DRAIN

If you look inside your window well you will see a layer of gravel, this is called a gravel bed. The vertical drain is beneath the gravel bed. This gravel bed and vertical drain are efficiently designed to direct volumes of rainwater directly to the weeping tile system located at the footing of the structure.

Other factors leading to your window well malfunctions are:

• Improper choice materials for the main vertical drain.
• Filling the drain with gravel.
• Damaging the drain during backfill and/or powertamping.
• Not installing enough gravel above the drain to protect is from sediment, leaves or any other intrusive materials that may enter the drain.

Once a window well drain is blocked and/or not draining there is no cost effective or reliable way of cleaning this drain out. Full replacement is the only way to guarantee a positive flow moving forward.

FROM THE TOP

If an existing window well is damaged and/or leaking then hand excavation takes place around the well. Once the well is removed it is placed away from the repair area. Excavation then continues to the existing weeping tile system usually 7ft – 8ft below grade to the footing. Once the weeping tile system is exposed the foundation wall is cleaned off with a wirebrush and inspection of the concrete wall takes place. If a window well has been inoperable for upwards of 24 months, the damaged concrete foundation wall will simultaneously be repaired during the installation of the new vertical drain.

DOING IT RIGHT – REPAIRING THE CONCRETE WALL

Once the foundation wall is cleaned and inspected, any cracks or damaged tie-rod holes are repaired by hand with hydraulic cement. Hydraulic cement expands when it cures; unlike S-type masonry which shrinks on cure. After the hydraulic cement cures, it offers an excellent initial-step in stopping moisture penetration through the foundation itself.

PRIMER

The foundation wall, within the excavated area, is then primed to receive the first layer of rubberized membrane. The primer ensures the membranes perfect adhesiveness to the surface of the wall.

RUBBERIZED MEMBRANE – FIRST COAT

This is applied directly onto the primer, with a generous first coast of approximately 5/16′.

FIBERGLASS MESH

Fibreglass mesh is then installed which impregnates the first layer of Hydroshield membrane.

RUBBERIZED MEMBRANE – SECOND COAT

A second coat of Hydroshield is installed on top of the fiberglass mesh; creating the backbone of our primary rubberized membrane patch.

PLASTIC LAYER PROTECTION

Next, a 10mil plastic layer is installed on top of our rubberized membrane which will protect the fresh waterproofing patch repair upon backfill.

PLATON DRAINAGE BOARD – FURTHER PROTECTION

Platon drainage board is then fastened from the top of the repair area all the way down to the footing. Platon is then trimmed around the existing window opening and its edges are secured firmly to the foundation wall with concrete anchors. Inspection of the existing weeping tile system is mandatory now that the repair of the concrete wall within the window well is complete.

The next step is to install a fresh 4″ vertical drain from the existing weeping tile system located at the footing, up to the bottom ledge of the window well opening (located at grade).

FRESH VERTICAL DRAIN INSTALL – WINDOW WELL

This fresh 4″ vertical drain, with proper filtercloth technologies, will drain the window well into the functioning weeping tile system below. To keep the window well drain level, it is then fastened to the foundation wall. Next, 8″ of ¾” clear gravel is installed at the footings to lock both systems in place. Backfill of the excavation with powertamping is then required to guarantee minimal settlement. As the backfill reaches approximately 8″ below the bottom side of window opening at grade, a fresh window well will be reinstalled into the foundation walls. 8″ of ¾” clear gravel is then installed on top of the fresh 4″ vertical drain and the exterior of the window well is backfilled. This essentially constitutes a complete vertical drain replacement and rubberized membrane installation.

CONCLUSION

The most important variable in a working and reliable window well installation is the vertical drain itself. All damage, cracking and water penetration into the basement originates from the lack of a window well drain being present, an improper drain installation, or a drain that is completely blocked and/or crushed. If the ground water has nowhere to go, the window well itself will essentially fill up with water similar to an aquarium. Eventually, the water will pass through the foundation wall and right into the basement itself creating damage to the wall. A completely guaranteed, turnkey window well repair requires full excavation to the footings, a full masonry repair to damaged areas, and a robust and reliable rubberized membrane installation with a perfectly protected vertical drain installation. Any other exotic methodology will simply not work.