Wednesday, March 25, 2015
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Monday, March 16, 2015
Will a new window well stop my flooding problems?
Will a new window well stop my flooding problems?
This is a very important question, because homeowners could find themselves having the same flooding problems even after replacing a damaged window well. The important thing to understand about window wells is that their job is retain dirt, NOT to hold out water. Flooding is most commonly caused by drainage problems and exacerbated by inadequate or deteriorated window wells. Properly installed window wells allow landscaping dirt to be placed in such a way that water is always running away from the home. Rain gutter spouts should be very carefully directed to a place where the water will not seep towards the foundation. Sprinklers should also be directed so as to have the water running away from the home.
A good test is to take a hose and run water up onto your roof, and then watch where the water travels. Make sure your rain gutters and downspout are working the way you think they are. Also put the water in various spots on your concrete and yard and see if the water makes its way toward your home.
Please note that a rusting window well still needs to be replaced to avoid flooding even after drainage problems have been solved. In the case of a heavy downpour of rain the earth becomes saturated and extremely heavy – which is when the weakened window well will collapse with the pressure. When this happens, the collapsed well creates a low spot to which water will flow – filling up your well until the window finally breaks from the pressure of the water and pours the water into your home. If the window does not break from the pressure, the water will seep into your home slowly through the small drainage holes in your bottom of your windows.
Many floods happen from water seeping up and filling the well from the bottom. In addition to fixing drainage and replacing wells gravel should be placed at the bottom of every window well to drain away any small amount of water that comes into the window well. Caulk should be applied to the edges of the window wells where they meet the foundation. This caulk also protects against incidental water seeping into the well. Gravel should be held down two inches from the bottom of the window so you can see if water is building up before it enters your home. 4-6” of gravel (or restoration of existing gravel) and caulking of the wells are included in our installation. If you would like deeper gravel let us know and we can certainly include it in our quote.
This is a very important question, because homeowners could find themselves having the same flooding problems even after replacing a damaged window well. The important thing to understand about window wells is that their job is retain dirt, NOT to hold out water. Flooding is most commonly caused by drainage problems and exacerbated by inadequate or deteriorated window wells. Properly installed window wells allow landscaping dirt to be placed in such a way that water is always running away from the home. Rain gutter spouts should be very carefully directed to a place where the water will not seep towards the foundation. Sprinklers should also be directed so as to have the water running away from the home.
A good test is to take a hose and run water up onto your roof, and then watch where the water travels. Make sure your rain gutters and downspout are working the way you think they are. Also put the water in various spots on your concrete and yard and see if the water makes its way toward your home.
Please note that a rusting window well still needs to be replaced to avoid flooding even after drainage problems have been solved. In the case of a heavy downpour of rain the earth becomes saturated and extremely heavy – which is when the weakened window well will collapse with the pressure. When this happens, the collapsed well creates a low spot to which water will flow – filling up your well until the window finally breaks from the pressure of the water and pours the water into your home. If the window does not break from the pressure, the water will seep into your home slowly through the small drainage holes in your bottom of your windows.
Many floods happen from water seeping up and filling the well from the bottom. In addition to fixing drainage and replacing wells gravel should be placed at the bottom of every window well to drain away any small amount of water that comes into the window well. Caulk should be applied to the edges of the window wells where they meet the foundation. This caulk also protects against incidental water seeping into the well. Gravel should be held down two inches from the bottom of the window so you can see if water is building up before it enters your home. 4-6” of gravel (or restoration of existing gravel) and caulking of the wells are included in our installation. If you would like deeper gravel let us know and we can certainly include it in our quote.
SavageWindowWells.com
Mylan Savage (801) 430-3405
Will my new window wells rust again after you install them?
Will my new window wells rust again after you install them?
No!
The window wells we install are galvanized metal (steel that has received a thin coating of zinc oxide. This protects the steel from elements that normally would lead to oxidation, corrosion, and to the eventual weakening of the steel.) As long as the wells are not subject to electrolysis they should last indefinably.
With every install we use a specialized voltage meter system to check that the window wells have no contact to the existing metal in your home. Checking for electroloysis insures against the possibility that one of the bolts we used to connect the new well is touching the rebar in your foundation. Since this cannot be seen, our testing is the only way to make sure you will not have rusting again in the very near future. If our testing indicates that electrolysis is occurring we will re-install the well (at no charge) to get it corrected.
No!
The window wells we install are galvanized metal (steel that has received a thin coating of zinc oxide. This protects the steel from elements that normally would lead to oxidation, corrosion, and to the eventual weakening of the steel.) As long as the wells are not subject to electrolysis they should last indefinably.
With every install we use a specialized voltage meter system to check that the window wells have no contact to the existing metal in your home. Checking for electroloysis insures against the possibility that one of the bolts we used to connect the new well is touching the rebar in your foundation. Since this cannot be seen, our testing is the only way to make sure you will not have rusting again in the very near future. If our testing indicates that electrolysis is occurring we will re-install the well (at no charge) to get it corrected.
SavageWindowWells.com
Mylan Savage 801-430-3405
Why are my window wells rusting or rotting?
Why are my window wells rusting or rotting?
Window wells rust because of electrolysis (decomposition produced by an electric current.)
This means that a window well is rusting because it is touching other metal in your home (either the window buck or rebar inside your foundation via attachment bolts.) The well is the least noble metal and is sitting in moist earth, so it is the first metal the electric current breaks down. From our experience, the more moisture in the ground the faster the decomposition. Please note that just because a window well is touching the window buck does not mean it will rust – the rebar inside the foundation must be also be touching the buck to produce the electric current.
Window wells rust because of electrolysis (decomposition produced by an electric current.)
This means that a window well is rusting because it is touching other metal in your home (either the window buck or rebar inside your foundation via attachment bolts.) The well is the least noble metal and is sitting in moist earth, so it is the first metal the electric current breaks down. From our experience, the more moisture in the ground the faster the decomposition. Please note that just because a window well is touching the window buck does not mean it will rust – the rebar inside the foundation must be also be touching the buck to produce the electric current.
SavageWindowWells.com
Mylan Savage 801-430-3405
Can I repair my rusting window well without replacement?
Can I repair my rusting window well without replacement?
Unfortunately, there is nothing you can do to fix or repair a rusting/rotting window well.
If the well is touching your window buck (the metal frame of your window) which is touching rebar then a slightly larger well must be installed to stop the electrolysis (break the electric current connection). If your rusting well is not touching the window buck than you have a connection inside your foundation from the attachment bolts causing electrolysis. If this is the case it is easier to replace the well then it is to find and remove the offending bolt and the window well will have already suffered major damage from the rust.
Painting (or a liner) will do nothing to prevent the corrosion (and the inevitable collapse) of your window well. The rust will very quickly show through paint, and the fluctuations in the metal because of temperature changes will cause the paint to peel. Once you can see the rust on a window well a large amount of damage has already been done because the rust occurs from the earthside and moves to the visible inside.
By delaying replacement you are risking collapse, which often times results in broken windows and/or water coming into your home.
Unfortunately, there is nothing you can do to fix or repair a rusting/rotting window well.
If the well is touching your window buck (the metal frame of your window) which is touching rebar then a slightly larger well must be installed to stop the electrolysis (break the electric current connection). If your rusting well is not touching the window buck than you have a connection inside your foundation from the attachment bolts causing electrolysis. If this is the case it is easier to replace the well then it is to find and remove the offending bolt and the window well will have already suffered major damage from the rust.
Painting (or a liner) will do nothing to prevent the corrosion (and the inevitable collapse) of your window well. The rust will very quickly show through paint, and the fluctuations in the metal because of temperature changes will cause the paint to peel. Once you can see the rust on a window well a large amount of damage has already been done because the rust occurs from the earthside and moves to the visible inside.
By delaying replacement you are risking collapse, which often times results in broken windows and/or water coming into your home.
SavageWindowWells.com
Mylan Savage 801-430-4305
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