What is the Solution for Leaking Window Wells?

If you suspect that you have damage to your basement window wells or you have noticed an active leak in your basement, there is no time to lose. The quicker you act, the more straightforward and affordable repairs will be (as is often the case with structural repairs).

Call a Professional

First and foremost, you need to contact a professional if you think you have damage like this in your basement. It can be tempting to try a DIY fix, we know, but we urge you not to do this because it can go wrong incredibly quickly! This is partly because you could misdiagnose the actual causes of the damage to your window and partly because you could install a solution that is unsuitable.

This can either cause further damage to your window and window well or cover up the damage without addressing the cause, thereby allowing the damage to spread or reoccur at a later date. This will increase your overall repair costs and could have serious repercussions for your home as a whole. Persistent dampness can cause structural damage, for example, and can lead to things like sagging floors.

Repair or Replacement?

A professional will perform a full inspection of your basement to assess the extent, severity, and causes of the damage to your window and window well. Once they have a good idea of what has caused the window well to start leaking, they will give you their suggestions for the best possible solution. Depending on the damage, this could be repair or full replacement of the damaged window and window well.

It is important to remember that you have the final say in these matters. Most professionals will suggest replacement when it will be easier and more effective than repairs or when the windows and window wells are so old that they are at the end of their lifespan. Repairs, by contrast, will be suggested when the damage is relatively mild, or when it is more cost-effective to repair the current window and window well rather than to replace it.