Question:

We have a 30 year old 2-story house and we are finishing our basement. I received a quote from a local company on installing a new larger window in the basement. The reason I am doing this is to provide an easier and larger emergency exit. I have decided to dig and enlarge the outside window well myself. We are not making the window larger horizontally, as there is an outside eaves trough drain next to the window well and a plumbing drain on the opposite side of the window inside the basement. Therefore we are enlarging the window downward by 14 inches. The bottom of the new window will be 4.5 feet above the basement floor. The top of the window is at ground level. The eaves trough drain goes into the sewer system below the basement footings. The contractor will guarantee against leaks from the window but not from the cement block wall. I will dig down the necessary 14" and replace the gravel etc. However, I suspect the eaves trough drainpipes may be cracked or broken after all these years. There has never been a leak in the basement. Also, I want to enlarge the window well from 43" log x 24" deep x 12" wide to 43" long x 38" deep x 24" wide. Hopefully I can obtain a window well this size. Is there anything special we should watch for when we dig?

Answer:

You're getting into something that will be effected by frost should it go deeper than it has in the past. Concrete block walls 30 years old will not take kindly to any pressure against them. I understand you contractor's point of view but I don't know why he hasn't suggested more protection for both wall and footing in that area.

Answered By: Ren Molnar

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