Basement Window Well Drain Installation

Whether you have windows in your basement for natural light purposes or as an emergency escape route, you’ll need some window wells outside as well unless you want to look at dirt. Often times, especially in older homes, window wells can act exactly like wells. Although they create a space for air and light and a barrier to hold back the soil, they also present yet another opportunity for water to enter your basement.

When snow starts to melt and rain starts to fall, window wells fill up with water and hold it until you bail it out or erosion crates a void between the window and the foundation, allowing the water to seep in. In the worst-case scenario, the water comes pouring into your basement, and the pressure on the window can even shatter the glass.

Typical Window Well Problems Stem From the Following:

Poor Installation. If your window well wasn’t properly installed in the first place, it won’t be able to keep water out and away from your basement.
Incorrect Window Well Sizing. When your window well isn’t wide or deep enough to accommodate your specific area, you’re likely going to run into some waterproofing issues.
Gravel Layer Contamination. If the gravel layer is contaminated with too many debris, it won’t be able to drain correctly.
Not Enough Drainage. Water should never just sit in your window well–it should be able to exit immediately without having any time to accumulate.

What Does it Cost to Install a Window Well Drain?

A properly installed Window Well Drain can save your basement from a major flood. Other than Sump Pump failure, the most amount of water than can enter your basement is through the window well. Especially when gutter downspouts are close, we have seen windows wells fill up and their windows break, flooding the basement. It is imperative to have a proper Window Well Drain installed to prevent this. Traditionally, there are two ways to do a window well drain:

From the outside
From the inside

From the Outside

These drains can be connected into an Exterior Drain Tile System. Whenever we install such a system, the Window Well Drains are installed and connected directly. This allows the water to go directly into our solid Drain Tile, and run to the Sump Pit, where the water is discharged from the home. These drains are included in the price of the Exterior Drain Tile.

We do not install these Window Well Drains from the outside if we do not do the Exterior Drain Tile. The main reason to this is the older homes that have Clay Drain Tile or Corrugated Exterior Drain Tile we cannot guarantee the effectiveness of these systems. We cannot guarantee the effectiveness of ANY Drain Tile that was not ours. The best way is to install a new drain tied into an interior system.

From the Inside

Most of our Drains are installed from the inside. We accomplish this by coring a hole through the wall and then running a pvc pipe down into an Interior Drain Tile or straight to the Sump Pit. The 1.5” pvc can many times be hidden behind the studs in the wall, allowing for the basement to be refinished without anybody being the wiser.

Check the link below to view our pricing sheet:

If you have any questions, give us a call and we’d be happy to help! Thanks for reading, and remember:

“Not Everything’s Better When Wet”

How Much Does It Cost to Install a Window Well?

Window wells come in many shapes and sizes, and are even made up of different materials. Almost every house has them, and if you are finishing your basement, an escape window well is necessary to meet code. It’s also necessary if you value your family’s life, but more on that later.

As stated above, window wells vary, but the two most common types of wells are:

Half-Moon
1. Semi-circle window well
Egress
1. Larger, rectangular window well

Half-Moon Window Well Installation

The Half-Moon wells are most commonly found on the smaller windows in the basement. Many times, these windows don’t even open and are made of glass block. The cost varies on the size and depth of the well.

Rectangular Window Well Installation Cost

More-commonly used for Egress Escape Windows in the basement, these are rectangular in shape and tend to be larger and deeper. You will find these on non-escape windows as well, but not as common. For code, if it is used in an Egress Escape Window, the well must be large enough for a firefighter to fit in with all their gear. This is measured at 3 feet from the home. That’s a big well!

Wells tend to go a bit deeper than the half-moon wells. This is because the smaller windows tend to be at the top of the foundation, used to let light and air in. The egress windows are at least 5.7 square feet and come much farther down in the foundation.

All window wells are installed with new gravel, sealed sides, and removal/regrading of the dirt outside. We will even do our best to re-plant flowers and bushes, in our capacity. A proper Window Well Cover and Window Well Drain are also needed in order to have a fully functioning, dry window well.

To view our pricing sheet, click the link below:

How Much Does It Cost to Install a Window Well?

Window Well Covers are an integral part of a functioning Window Well System. And we are not talking about the ones you get at big box stores that blow away and crack at the slightest wind. We are talking Window Well Covers that hold a Lifetime Guarantee and can support over 800 pounds! They come in both translucent and transparent plastic, allowing some or more light into your basement. Our system also allows for two types of connections:

Wind Clips
1. Used mostly for Half-Moon Window Wells, these allow the cover to be secure against the wind, but able to be pulled off from the outside.
Safety Locks
1. These are used mainly in Egress Escape Window Wells, and allow for the cover to be locked from the outside so nobody can break in. To release the cover from the inside, simply remove the cotter pins (takes just a few seconds) and you can get out of the well.

Covers come in many different shapes and sizes. Listed below are the most common-found covers out there:

Most standard Half-Moon Window Well Covers
Rectangular Window Well
Concrete Window Wells

Each project is done on a specific-measurement basis, but for the price range, check below to view our pricing sheet:

If you feel you need, or want, new window well covers, give us a call! All covers are custom cut on-site and have a beautiful finish.

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“Not Everything’s Better When Wet”®

Google Rating

4.9

Based on 462 reviews

Real Seal Basement Waterproofing & Foundation Repair

4.9

review us on See all reviews

Sarah Deans

1736429478

Great work, super friendly service and very communicative.

Carol Marr

1736215898

Good professional service!

Philip Buhrmann

1735829243

Great communication with their team and excellent quality of work. Their specialist went the extra mile on site which we all appreciated. Would definitely rely on them again.

Georgina Mhlanga

1735247876

George Ledezma is a very hard worker! He pays attention to details, make sure the jobs are completed to customer satisfaction and is a leader. He deserves a promotion for his loyalty towards Real Seal.

Christofer Bendik

1734895334

the most dependable and thorough waterproofing company in the Chicagoland area. Been using them since we moved into our house in 2011. Austin and his team consistently crush it.

Jim White

1734457584

I can't recommend this company enough. Theirs is by far the best customer service I've ever experienced from any company regardless of the business they're in. There are a lot of choices for basement waterproofing, especially in Chicagoland, but Real Seal is a standout.

Nick

1733776066

The crawlspace to basement conversion was great! The crew clearly knew what they were doing and paid close attention to detail. For such a large project, we had a lot of anxiety going in, but Real Seal went above and beyond to make sure the project went smoothly. Every contractor and inspector who stopped by was also impressed by their work!If you have a crawlspace want to add square footage to your home (or have a nice new spot to wait out tornados), I highly recommend reaching out to Real Seal about a conversion.

J. P. Berres

1733497139

Great job and performance!

Dennis

1733332181

Sal and Omar arrived on-time and did an excellent job repairing the cracks in the foundation and installing the new piping for the crawlspace sump pump. Sal completed the exterior work in the dark nd cold and took the extra time to make sure it was just right ! The whole process from quote to completed job was what was promised.

Dorothy Deemer

1733160648

I'm so grateful that I got The Real Seal to solve my basement water issues. They sealed several cracks and did drainage work outside to get the water away from my foundation. The guys that did the work were very friendly and knowledgeable.

Steve M

1732897900

Jason Lawrence

1732569891

I never used them personally but they respond to all the comments on their website and offer whatever help they can which is very helpful for DIYer’s like me. If they were in Philadelphia I would undoubtedly use them. Great people.

Thomas Schneider

1732384683

Great job RealSeal. This is my second sidewalk leveling project. Both have been performed very well.

Joshua Johannpeter

1732205643

Solution worked, good price

Anna Van Orden

1732040729

Real seal has been very helpful with all the projects that I had completed this summer. I had foundation cracks repaired, two basement windows and wells replaced at a reasonable price. The work was completed as promised and area cleaned of the debris. They also referred me to a contractor who completed the foam spray for insulation in my crawl space who completed the work as I requested.

Sam Seyller

1731932106

Inger Britt

1731687054

Did a great job of explaining whats needed, what's less important, and happy with results so far.

pat mast

1731464054

Used real seal for 2 foundation cracks. From the estimate to having the repair done was great. Very fast and efficient. I was called to schedule and I lucked out did repair same day. Now that's Service.

Henry Gut

1731163196

This sump and battery backup are a great value. It was purchased for my mom which lives 1 hour away. I like the feature that if there is a failure ( highly unlikely ) it will notify my phone.

Jeff Hagopian

1730600301

Rob Jones

1730217420

I had some previous work done by a waterproofing company. I haven’t had any issues with it other than feeling like a I paid too much. When I had another basement crack that needed to be repaired, my contractor recommended Real Seal. I am glad he did and I wish I would have known about them sooner. The communication from the time I made the appointment until the work was complete was spectacular. The fees they charge for work is black and white and incredibly reasonable. I’ve hired them for a third job and would recommend them to anyone in need of their services. I’ve also gotten to know the owner of this outfit and some of the other employees and I couldn’t be more excited to see where a company goes in the future. Hats off to Austin and his whole crew!

Joseph Page

1729613059

Jim was very friendly and knowledgeable during the initial visit. He made sure to explain everything he was seeing and what he would recommend and why. He even looked into ways to reduce the financial burden a project like this would be. When it came time for the installation, Tomas and his crew were great and made sure the project was completed correctly. When they were done, they went above and beyond cleaning up and making things look the best they could. I hope no one needs to fix the issues our foundation had, but if they do Real Seal is highly recommended!!!

Tim Hauswirth

1729351257

Dan Raymond

1729188783

andrea zable

1728831496

Excellence all around. Professional, great pricing and awesome work

Dr. Luke Greenwell

1728506417

Quick and concise with their foundation repair. We had a helical pier stabilization performed on our 25 year old home with a cracked foundation and the team from Real Seal were beyond professional with the whole experience from the sales associate, case assistant, repair team, and follow-up. Highly recommend them for your foundational repair needs!

Steven Strunk

1727878629

My house was built in 1956, split levels with an English basement. When Pete came out to assess my situation, he made quick notes of common issues with a house like mine, and we came up with a couple of solutions. I opted for doing my own demo. I really liked that Pete was was down to earth about the project and what to expect. More than that, he expressed a real pride and appreciation for the whole team of people that would be involved along the way.First, Polyjacking was required for front and rear exterior concrete areas of the house. That was done on a separate visit. They did a great job of leveling the concrete, which will really help to keep the water away from the house.Next was interior installation of the Drain Tile and Sump Pump with batttery backup. My project was completed in 2 days, but I expected 3 days. Permit process depends on township, but in our case we only had one hiccup.On the big day, the guys showed up as scheduled and got right to work! I wish I had all of their names because I want to say thank you to them all. They were all INCREDIBLE! Thank you all so much for your hard work!!!Side note: I appreciated the management of dust created while breaking up the concrete with jack hammers. They had these cool air vacuums that collected the dust while jackhammering the floor, which really helped keep the dust to a minimum. Also, I'm grateful the guys were taking precautions with face protection during that part of the process to protect themselves.Exterior drainage entailed the installation of a french-type drain, evacuating sump pump water and integrating gutter downpipes. There was lots of digging on a hot day,. They carefully handled the routing of drain pipes in an area with lots of tree roots and hedges. I really appreciate their care for my plants while helping to improve an outdated water management setup.I would recommend this company strongly! Real Seal did a fantastic job of getting my project done right, and making the process as seamless as possible.

Ron Kern

1727628178

I spoke to the owner, Austin Werner, about my basement leaks and flooding in FL. He was very helpful giving me advice even though he would not be able to do the job. He was very knowledgeable and I would be hiring him immediately if he was local to me.

Chris Morgan

1726588460

Real Seal did some foundation repair for us (to stop a column from sinking further on our house). The process was clear from the beginning and there were no surprises. Miguel and the team doing the work was on-time every day, called ahead to let us be prepared, got the work done on-time, and were courteous throughout. The whole thing was just smooth and easy, which should be the case but isn't always!

Warren B

1726504586

Susan (account manager) and Jim (who came to my home to provide an estimate to repair my basement leak) were very courteous and easy to work with.

Marlee Griek

1726327482

Very efficient.

Jake Kumar

1725830381

Manny and his Team at RealSeal did a phenomenal job at evaluating, recommending the best solution, waterproofing and installing a new high mil membrane in my crawl space. There is no more water, no more smells, and super clean and bright. It's now not only safe from moisture, it's also a great place to store items. Highly recommend TheRealSeal.

Nancy Messman

1725540900

A new leak in our foundation appeared and water was seeping in. Several clean ups were required. A new friend recommended The Real Seal to me and I'm so glad he did. Within a week the crack was patched. They were careful to find the source of the problem and correct the issue in its entirety. The next rain proved that their work was completed with care and precision for no water appeared inside our home.I am very grateful to the kind and knowledgeable man who came out to initially talk with me, for the fine workmanship of the job, for responding so quickly, and for the fair price given. I highly recommend The Real Seal!

Dominic

1725189890

Work was completed a few weeks ago and has withstood multiple storms! Dealing with the company has been easy and they are no nonsense no hassle. They are knowledgeable and focus on the problems rather than extracting every last penny from you. George was fantastic completing the work. Definitely pick his brain to learn more about your basement!

Scott McDonald

1725136292

Diane is a no-pressure and super knowledgeable advisor who offered a range of options and worked within budget to find a solution for the seepage we had in a crawlspace. Cristian arrived on time, was so courteous, and did a thorough and professional job. When he wrapped up, he explained his work and showed us everything he completed. To top it off, the basement has remained dry since the work was done. Real Seal is the real deal for basement waterproofing. Highly recommend!

J Shaw

1724791364

Manny and his team did an outstanding job with our drain tile installation. The crew was clean, efficient, and professional, taking the time to walk me through each step. Highly recommend!

Craig Myers

1724416725

Technician took great pride in his work and did an excellent job.

Mary Ann Skweres

1724337090

Professional from start to finish.

Christine Nece

1723813506

Extremely satisfied. Serviceman was very knowledgeable and professional.

Brandon Garcia

1723223232

George Amparan

1722733400

Jeanette Pawletki

1722524898

The service and care we received from Real Seal was outstanding. Our foundation was sinking and Real Seal came to the rescue. After reviewing and getting several quotes. Real Seal was the one company that took their time and explained every process to us and made us feel safe and secure in our decision. They explained everything throughly and in detail. I knew every step that was done and they even went above what was expected. Austin was always available if we had any questions and if he didn't have the answer he knew who to refer us to for extra assistance. I would Highly recommend Real Seal if you want the job done honestly and throughly. It was well worth the money to have the sense of security that they gave me as a home owner.

Charlie Petrauskis

1722443890

Professional, thorough, timely, and affordable compared to other companies.

Michele Eichhorn

1722395880

Real Seal is a great company! Omar and Diane provided us with excellent service. They showed great teamwork. They were in contact with us throughout the whole process. Omar was the team member who came out to our house. He was kind, friendly and very professional. He worked very thoroughly and efficiently. He cleaned everything up when he was done. We would, definitely, recommend Real Seal.

Chris W

1721823936

My patio looks much better than it did before. Water no longer drains towards the foundation. Do not be put off by the initial quote, the service is well worth it. They are a very professional team.

Lindsey Sterczek

1721494311

We had a wonderful experience with The Real Seal in July 2024. They installed a drainage tile system and waterproofed the basement for future finishing. Their team was prompt, respectful, organized and thoroughly educated us on the drainage system, installation process and prevention. Thank you, Real Seal for being the flawless first step to our dream basement/family space!

Mikki Mistal

1721482228

Great job of leveling and filling my sidewalk crack

Aprile Jones

1721430018

They did a great job polyjacking my sinking front stoop. I definitely recommend them.

Mary Herrold

1721403604

Real Seal is the real deal. I didn’t have the budget for concrete replacement, but I had significant sinking, cracking, and heaving causing water and rodent issues in my garage and around my home. I researched companies, got bids, and chose Real Seal. Why? Punctuality, professionalism, personalized attention, personality and process. I trusted them immediately and I made the right choice. The work was done as agreed. The price was fair. The team was personable and deliberate in their work. I feel I got a solid value for my investment and I would recommend them to anyone.

Basement Window Well Drain Installation