Window well covers
A cover keeps snow, leaves, rain and animals out of the well. On an egress well, it also has to let someone get out fast.
In a Coulee Region winter, an open egress well against the north side of a house can fill with snow by January. Leaves blow in every fall. Kids, pets and the occasional rabbit fall in. A good cover solves all of that, as long as it doesn't trap anyone inside.
What types of covers are there?
- Clear polycarbonate or acrylic domes. Shed snow and rain while letting daylight into the room. Polycarbonate generally stands up to impact and cold better than acrylic.
- Flat clear covers on a frame. A lower profile that's easier to walk around and holds more snow before it sheds.
- Steel grates. Keep people and animals out but let snow and leaves through. Often paired with a clear panel.
- Custom-fit covers. Measured for terraced wells or odd shapes where off-the-shelf sizes don't fit.
What makes a cover egress-safe?
The cover can't stand between a person and the yard. Minnesota's residential code says covers, grates and similar devices over an escape opening or window well must be releasable or removable from inside without a key, tool, special knowledge or extra force. Wisconsin's egress section focuses on the window and the well itself, but the purpose is the same, and your local inspector may have an opinion. Ask for a cover that a child or an older adult could push open from below.
What should I look for?
- A rating for snow load if the well sits where snow piles up or slides off the roof
- Hinges or lift handles on the inside, not just bolts on the outside
- A snug fit to the well so wind doesn't lift it and leaves don't slip in
- Material that won't turn yellow and brittle after a few summers
Signs a cover needs replacing
- Cracks, cloudy patches or a dome sagging under snow
- A cover that's screwed or locked down from outside
- Gaps that let water run down the foundation into the well
The installer prices the job after measuring the room, looking at the wall from both sides and checking what's buried along the foundation. We don't quote prices, and any number you hear over the phone before someone sees the basement is only a rough starting point.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
Will a cover make my egress window fail inspection?
Not if it opens easily from inside without tools or keys. A cover that is fastened down from outside is the kind inspectors flag.
Do covers help with leaks?
A clear cover keeps most rain and snow from collecting in the well, which reduces one common source of basement water. It's not a substitute for proper well drainage.
Related services
- Egress window installation
- Foundation cutting and enlarging openings
- Egress window wells
- Basement bedroom code help
More background: La Crosse egress window guide.
Finishing a basement bedroom, or told your basement window won't pass?
Call now and a local egress window installer will talk through your basement with you.