How To Secure Window Well Covers
Having a basement in a home adds much-needed space. Unfortunately, not all homes come with them. Merely for those which exercise, the extra infinite can be used for storage or converted to additional living infinite, every bit the possessor prefers. But that extra space doesn't come up without some potential for issues. Basements tin flood and animals can get into them. Proper care must be taken of the basement, just like any other part of a habitation.
One of the problem areas for basements is the windows. Building code requires that egress windows be installed in basements as burn down escapes and particularly in bedrooms that are congenital in basements. Simply that window, and the window well that goes with it, can be a place for water to leak into the home, for kids to drop their toys and for stray animals to become trapped. If there are copse nearby, yous can be sure that the leaves will fill upward the window well and need to exist cleaned out.
The solution to those potential issues is to install window well covers. This is a adequately like shooting fish in a barrel and inexpensive prepare, for what otherwise can plow into a source of headaches. Window well covers are clear plastic, so they are unobtrusive, attractive and come in a diversity of styles, which don't really impact the appearance of your home. However, they are imminently practical.
Measure the Window Well
Before heading off to the local abode improvement warehouse to buy the window well covers, it's a skillful idea to measure the window well. There are 2 chief measurements of concern, the width of the window well where it makes contact with the wall, equally that will be its widest point and how far out the window well protrudes. If the height of the window is above the pinnacle of the window well, measure how high it sticks up as well.
Not all window wells are shaped the same either. At one time, they were almost ever semi-circular, only that mode has been replaced by a squared off one, with rounded corner. Some of those squared off window wells might stick out quite a ways and even comprise a ladder. Cement and treated woods window wells might be square or even trapezoidal in shape. Keep in mind that a home might accept more one style, especially if an add-on has been fabricated to the home.
While looking at the home, take a look at where the siding falls in relation to the window and well. In almost cases, there should exist some concrete showing in a higher place the window well, allowing the window well to exist attached directly to it. On brick homes, the window well tin be attached to the brick. But on homes with siding, the flange on the window well might need to tuck under the siding to forbid leaks.
The measurements will aid with selecting the right sort of window well cover to fit those window wells. There are two basic styles: flat and domed. Windows which stick up more than a couple of inches higher up the edge of the window well probably need the domed covers; otherwise, either kind can be used for any dwelling'south windows. Domed ones also shed melting snow better, which is another advantage to them. The other consideration is that they come up in styles which are semi-circular and squared off, to lucifer the unlike styles of window wells out there. On the other hand, flat ones are easier for egress from the home, if the window is an egress. Some of these apartment ones are even hinged to make egress easier.
Select a window well comprehend that fits the window wells on the abode, based upon the dimensions taken. The cover needs to be just a piffling bit wider and a little bit deeper than the window well itself; ideally, less than two inches. Since everything is made to standard sizes, except for concrete and force per unit area-treated wood window wells, information technology shouldn't be hard to find something that will provide a good fit.
Installing the Window Well Encompass
Both styles of window well covers need to exist attached to the wall, simply some flat ones might also demand to be attached to the edge of the window well itself, in order to keep kids and animals from raising information technology up.
Eye the window well cover over the window well to bank check fit. It may or may non come with holes pre-drilled in the flange for attaching to the wall; but in most cases it volition not. Mark the middle of the flange and four to six inches from both ends. For domed window well covers, add markings near the bottom of the flange on both sides. That should be enough for belongings it in identify, but there'due south no problem with calculation additional mounting holes if they are deemed necessary.
Drill the hole that were just marked with a three/xvi" drill flake. Go slowly while drilling to forestall cracking the plastic. A cake of bit wood, backing up the flange while drilling, volition give it some back up and help to foreclose dandy.
Identify the window well covered back over the window well and center information technology. So, using it as a template, marking the abode's wall, where the mounting hole are, using a fairly fine point magic marker.
Homes with Siding
If the dwelling has siding installed which the cover is going to mount to, drill pilot hole in the siding, right through the holes already drilled in the flange of the cover. The pilot hole shouldn't be any bigger than the pocket-size diameter of the spiral (that'due south the diameter of the central shaft of the spiral, without the threads).
If the cover comes with screws, those can exist used to install the embrace. If it does non, so what's actually needed is round head or ash head forest screws. If those aren't available, and so round headed sheet metallic screws tin can be used. To assistance prevent cracking of the plastic, it'southward a proficient idea to use fender washers nether the screws.
Homes with Brick or Concrete
If the cover is being mounted to either brick or concrete, remove the encompass, so that the pigsty can be drilled into the side of the dwelling house. These volition need to be drilled with a masonry bit and hammer drill (masonry bits won't get into masonry with a normal drill). Proper sizing of the drill flake, to lucifer the anchors that will be used is essential, every bit otherwise the anchors will non agree. Every bit they really don't need to hold any weight, simple plastic expansion anchors can exist used; more expensive ones are not necessary.
These anchors are installed by simply hammering them into the hole. Do not utilise a lot of strength, equally that can cause the anchor to deform. Rather, lightly tap it in, taking care not to hit the anchor off-eye. Make sure that it is fully driven into the hole, then that information technology does not protrude out of the wall.
Replace the window well embrace on the window well, aligning the hole in the embrace with the anchors mounted in the wall. The anchors will probably take come with sheet metal screw which are the right length and bore to fit the anchor. It is best to use those. Calculation a fender ash of the advisable size between the spiral head and the plastic comprehend tin can help prevent stress cracking.
Window Well Covers with Clips
Some window well covers will apply clips, attaching to the edge of the window well, in addition to beingness mounted with screw. These are usually used for egress windows, with the cover being hinged. In that example, it is necessary to add clips to the cover, which volition concur it in identify on the top of the window well. These clips wait much like a slightly smaller version of the ones that mount to the wall for holding mops, brooms and rakes.
With the window well cover in place, mark the location of the three clips, directly over the edge of the window well. One should exist mounted directly in the heart of the window well and the other two should be six to eight inches from the wall, on either side. This is all-time done while marker for the mounting hole in the flange.
Some window wells may demand to have the flange cutting, in lodge for the prune to fit. This is something to be avoided, if possible; but there are occasions when in that location is no other choice. In those cases, use a grinder to have off no more of the flange than is necessary to allow the clip to fit onto the remaining edge.
As an culling to grinding off part of the flange, if galvanized steel window wells are installed, magnetic chiffonier catches can be attached to the lesser side of the window well cover, to hold information technology in place. Choose a magnetic grab with a potent magnet for this, non the cheapest one available, to go along the current of air from bravado it loose.
Drill out these iii hole with a three/16" drill bit, taking intendance, as mentioned higher up, to avoid splitting the plastic. So mount the clips on the bottom of the flange. The screw should go through the clip from the bottom, then through the flange. Secure it on the elevation side with a cap or acorn nut and ash. Tighten the screw and nut, so that it won't come up loose.
Cheque the fit of all these clips, ensuring that they brand skilful contact with the window well and secure the encompass to it.
Source: http://theplywood.com/window-well-covers
Posted by: mataothed1979.blogspot.com
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