Window wells fail for the same few reasons whatever they’re made of: soil pressure, freeze and thaw, water, and a weak installation. Plastic wells tend to crack or bow, steel wells rust, and masonry cracks or crumbles. If you’re looking into window well replacement because your well is cracked through, bowing, rusted through or pulling away from the house, you’re in the right place. Because the well is also your emergency exit, a failing one is more than a cosmetic problem.
We replace failing wells and damaged egress windows across Nassau and Suffolk counties on Long Island. Here’s how to tell what’s wrong with yours, why wells fail, and what to replace it with.
Signs your window well is failing
- Cracks in the wall of the well, especially at the corners or where it’s fastened to the foundation
- Walls that bow inward, lean, or bulge toward the window
- Rust streaks, flaking metal, or holes at the base or seams of a steel well
- A well that’s pulling away from the foundation, leaving a gap
- Soil sinking or washing in around the well
- Water that pools in the well and doesn’t drain, or that finds its way to the window
- A window that’s harder to open than it used to be
Any one of these is worth a look. Bowing, separation from the foundation and rust-through are the serious ones, because they mean the well can no longer hold the soil back.
Why window wells fail
A window well is a retaining wall. Soil pushes on it from the outside, water collects inside it, and Long Island winters freeze and thaw that water and soil over and over. InterNACHI, the home inspector association, notes that hydrostatic pressure and freeze-thaw cycles can put a great deal of pressure on window wells.
| Well material | Common failure | What to look for |
|---|---|---|
| Plastic or polyethylene | Cracking and bowing | Cracks in the wall, walls that flex or bow inward |
| Galvanized steel | Rust, bowing or rupture | Orange streaks, flaking metal, holes, bowed walls |
| Masonry and block | Spalling, cracking, bowing or leaning | Crumbling surfaces, cracked joints, a wall that leans |
No material is immune. What separates a well that lasts from one that doesn’t is mostly how rigid the well is, how well it’s anchored to the foundation, how well the backfill is compacted, and whether water has somewhere to go. Thin material, weak anchoring and poor drainage shorten the life of any well.
Two other things to know. A failing well is often under more soil pressure than it looks, so don’t dig around it yourself. And because the well is part of your emergency exit, keep children and pets away from a well that’s cracked or bowing, and make sure the window still opens fully.
What replacing a window well involves
We start with a free consultation. We look at the well, the window and the way water moves around your house, then explain what failed and why. If only the well is damaged, we replace the well. If the egress window is damaged too, we can replace that as part of the same job with our European tilt-and-turn window.
A new well is only as good as what’s under and behind it, so we build the replacement the same way we build a new install: a drainage stone base over a 50-gallon NDS Flo-Well that holds water and lets it soak into the surrounding ground, compacted backfill, restoration of the disturbed area, and broom-finished cleanup. See the full egress window installation details.
What to replace it with
We don’t install plastic wells. The wells we install are rigid, and every replacement is drained and backfilled the way a new install is:
- Masonry: block-built on site with a scratch coat finish, with a ladder, steps, paver caps and a polycarbonate cover included.
- Boman Kemp: a galvanized steel well in white or stacked stone, with a Boman Kemp ladder and a steel cover with a polycarbonate top, plus a manufacturer warranty.
- Cambridge ArmorTec: Cambridge block with cap units and built-in steps built to code. The cover is priced separately.
Not sure which one fits? Our guide to egress window well options on Long Island compares all three side by side. Every replacement comes with our 5-year workmanship warranty, and most installs are done in 1 day.
Before the next freeze
Cracks and gaps get worse every time water gets in and freezes. If your well is already showing damage, it’s worth getting it looked at before winter. If water is already getting into the basement, read whether egress windows leak too.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my window well needs to be replaced?
Look for cracks, bowing or leaning walls, rust holes, a gap between the well and the foundation, or soil sinking around it. A dirty well can be cleaned, but a well that’s bowing, rusted through or pulling away needs to be replaced.
Can a cracked plastic window well be repaired?
A tiny surface crack might hold for a while, but cracks in plastic usually widen with every freeze and thaw. If the well is bowing or the crack runs through the wall, replacement is the safer fix.
How long do window wells last?
There’s no single number. Material, anchoring, backfill and drainage matter more than age, and a poorly installed well can fail early, while a well that’s rigid and well drained can last far longer. Ask any installer how they drain and backfill the well, not just what it’s made of.
Can you replace just the well and keep my egress window?
Yes, if the window is in good shape. If the window is damaged too, we can replace both in the same visit.
Do I need a permit to replace a window well?
It depends on your town and on what’s being changed. Permits and any engineered drawings are the homeowner’s responsibility, and we’ll explain what your town requires.
What does replacing a window well cost?
It depends on the well you choose, its depth and whether the window needs replacing. We quote your exact number at your free consultation. For the cost of a full new egress install, see what an egress window costs on Long Island.
Get your window well looked at
Our installers have 20 years of experience, and we’re rated 5.0 on Google from 59+ reviews. Book a free consultation and we’ll tell you what’s wrong, what it takes to fix and what we’d put in its place. You’ll get $500 off when you book the free consultation. Start on our egress window installation page.
