Window Well Covers: Benefits, Uses, and More.
Window Well Covers: Benefits,
Uses, and More
Should you bother covering up your window wells? In a word, Yes! Learn about the benefits, uses, and more about window well covers.
Having windows in your basement is a feature many homeowners wish they had. They help to make your basement more functional by providing natural light and ventilation. But they can also invite water, moisture, pests, and other disasters into your home if they’re not properly covered. The best defense is a sturdy window well cover so you can enjoy all the benefits without the hassle.
What Do Window Well Covers Do?
Because window wells can be quite deep, window well covers offer two layers of protection: to your home and to people, pets, and wildlife. For instance, a small animal that falls into a window well may be unable to climb out on its own. The same risk applies to children and house pets.
Uncovered wells can be a serious threat, and
it’s not surprising when wild animals try to find shelter in an empty window
well.
What’s more, snow or debris from storms can
accumulate in a window well. This puts your home at risk for moisture or
flooding, which can cause significant damage to your floors and walls. Covering
your window wells gives you greater peace of mind as a homeowner because they
offer an extra layer of protection to your home.
Window well covers are designed to fit over
the top of a window well. They shield the well from weather, pests, debris, and
anything else that can accumulate the well (and eventually your home). Plus,
the well covers are usually clear so that they do not block sunlight from
shining through the window.
Types of Window Well Covers
Your budget and preferences may affect the
type of window well covers you choose. Here’s a closer look at some of your
options:
Window Well Cover Design
There are different types of window well
covers that you can install in your home, and we typically divide them into two
categories: custom and “off the shelf.”
Off-the-shelf window well covers can work in a
pinch. But they’re not made to suit your specific window well size and shape.
This matters because the well’s size and shape affect how well your cover will
fit. Even a small gap in defense can allow moisture, pests, and other materials
to enter the well.
A better approach is to choose custom window
well covers made for your home. The main advantage is that each cover is
designed to fit snugly over the well, regardless of material, size, or shape.
Plus, you can influence the design of the cover to get the functional features
instead of settling for whatever your local store is selling.
For example, our custom window well covers are sloped to allow
water and debris to naturally fall away from the home. This prevents debris
from accumulating, ensuring that nothing blocks the light streaming through
your basement windows. Not allowing accumulation also preserves the strength of
the well cover. Less weight on the cover at all times can help it last longer.
Materials
Materials for window well covers can vary,
too. Typically, you can get window well covers in plastic or metal. Plastic covers
are almost always transparent (or close to it) to allow for maximum light flow.
They can be flat or Sloped and made to fit any well shape. Plastic window well
covers come in polycarbonate, with the latter offering the
strongest and longest-lasting option.
The alternative to plastic is to use a metal
grate. This allows some moisture and debris to enter, but it prevents larger
debris (such as tree limbs), animals, and children from getting stuck in the
well. When using a metal grate, it’s a good idea to first make sure your window
well has good drainage. It may take longer for moisture to evaporate from a
well that’s partially covered.
How Long Do Window Well Covers Last?
Like everything else about your home, you do
need to put a little maintenance into your window well covers. Fortunately, the
effort is extremely minimal compared to maintaining the rest of your home.
On average, quality polycarbonate window well
covers will last for 10-15+ years. Good construction prevents damage from UV
lights, while more durable materials offer better protection against the
elements. For example, our window well covers can withstand up to 800 pounds!
Covers made with cheaper plastic or poor
craftsmanship will need replacing more often. The constant exposure to UV light
will cause cheaper plastic to become discolored and chip or crack. Hinges may
also need to be replaced more often on covers that are poorly crafted.
How to Get Custom Window Well Covers
Every home is different, which makes it hard
to find a great fit with pre-fabricated window well covers. Custom is almost
always the better route to go because it means getting a design that works for
your home, better materials, and a longer-lasting product.
HandyManny Custom Window Well Covers creates
made-for-your-home covers you can count on. We come to your home to take all
the measurements we need and assess your land for potential threats or issues
that our covers should address.
Our team designs and creates all of our
patent-pending sloped window well covers in-house, then professionally installs
them on your home to ensure the best fit and protection. And we even offer a
lifetime guarantee on our product and installation so you can enjoy your window
well covers for years to come.
Call us today to schedule a free on-site
estimate!
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