What a Window Well Inspection Actually Turns Up in Denver

Most homeowners never look twice at their window wells. They're easy to ignore - they sit below grade, out of sight, and it's not obvious when something is going wrong. But a quick inspection is all it takes to find problems that, left alone, can lead to water getting into your basement or a well that's completely failed at the foundation.

Here's what we actually find when we do inspections around Denver. Rust is the big one. When a galvanized steel well starts to corrode from the inside out, it's not just cosmetic. Heavy rust streaking running all the way down the corrugated walls means the metal is breaking down - and once it gets bad enough, the structural integrity of the well is gone. We also look at the seal where the well meets the foundation wall. Gaps and cracks in that seam are a direct entry point for water. We've seen wells that have completely separated from the foundation, with gravel and debris packed into the gap.

Drainage is another thing we check every time. The gravel bed at the bottom of a well is supposed to let water drain away from the window. But when that gravel gets silted over, compacted with dirt, or buried under leaves and debris - it stops doing its job. Standing water follows, and that puts pressure on the window frame and the foundation. We also check whether the well itself is starting to lean or shift, which points to soil movement or improper anchoring.

A well that's seen better days isn't just an eyesore. It's a liability - especially for egress window wells, where building code requires a clear, functional escape route. A rusted-through or debris-filled well can block that exit in an emergency. That's why we look at egress wells especially closely during every inspection. Safety isn't something to put off.

If you're in Denver or the surrounding cities, a window well check takes only a few minutes and can head off a much bigger repair bill down the road. We offer free inspections and can walk you through exactly what we're seeing and what - if anything - needs to be done.