Egress windows do more than let in natural light – they are very important for safety in your home. They serve as an extra emergency escape route, linking your living space to the outside. Basement egress windows are big enough for people to get in or out during an emergency when main doors are blocked and are often used in basements to meet egress window requirements for exits in bedrooms or living areas. You might also find them on upper floors based on local building rules and the way homes are built.
When egress windows are below ground level, they need an egress window well. This well is a space that lets a crank out window open fully for ventilation and offers a rescue opening in case of emergency. Window wells need to be large enough to be compliant with egress window size requirements. It is important to protect your home with a strong, well fitting cover to keep family and pets safe and keep out vermin, water, and debris.
Preparing to Measure Your Window Well Covers
Before buying window well covers, it’s important to measure your window wells accurately so the cover fits.
Tools and Equipment Needed for Accurate Measurement
Measuring for window well cover sizes is easy. You don’t need special tools or equipment. Usually, you can get the right measurements with simple items found in most homes.
You will need a good tape measure. A tape measure with both inches and feet will work well. Make sure the tape is in good shape and that the markings are easy to read for accurate window well dimensions.
Keep a notepad and a pencil handy. Writing down the egress window well dimensions as you go helps to prevent mistakes. It’s also good to have a flat surface nearby for easy note-taking. Window Well Experts has a window well cover measurement guide to capture all of the information needed for us to design your window well cover.
Identifying Different Types of Window Well Covers
Before you measure window openings to be covered, think about what type of cover you need and how it fits your home’s style. You can find window well covers made from different materials. These include classic metal grates and strong polycarbonate window well covers.
Standard covers come in common sizes. They are a cost-effective choice and work well with some wells, but custom covers can be designed to fit your specific window well size. They are great for irregularly shaped or larger wells.
The type of egress window you have also matters. Whether you have sliding egress windows, or in-swing basement windows or casement/crank out windows impacts which cover you pick as some covers work better with particular window types. This will improve both how well they work and how they look. Your decision can also depend on what you like and the overall design of your home.
How to Measure Window Well Covers
Accurately measuring window well covers varies whether or not you have a metal window well and if the window is above the lip of the well.
How to Measure Metal Window Wells
- Width (A): Measure the widest point of the wall at the back.
- Projection (B): Measure from the foundation wall at the widest point.
- Height: Measure the distance from the well lip to the ground for the opening height (needed on metal wells only).
- If the window is above the lip of the well, also measure the distance from the lip of the well to the top of the window frame on both the left and right sides.
- Semicircle wells need a G dimension measuring the size of the opening area to account for irregular shaped metal semicircle window wells. On medium 24” wells, measure 12” from the wall on each side. Large 36” wells should mark 24” from the wall. Measure across the opening from each point.
- Criss cross measurements account for off-kilter U shaped wells. Measure from each corner to the diagonal mark.
- Take a photo directly above the window well so we can digitize your window well before properly machining the cover.
- Take a photo directly in front of the window well so we can ensure no obstructions will affect the functionality.
- Get a free estimate from Window Well Experts to design your custom window well
How to Measure Concrete, Plastic, Wood, or Brick Window Wells
In addition to the steps above, we need to measure the outside dimensions of your well for concrete, brick, wood, or plastic window wells to account for both the inside and outside projection measurements over the net clear opening area. Measure above the well from the outer edge of your well to your egress window for these types of wells.
Be sure to watch our instructional video on how to measure window well covers for more help finding your perfect fit.
Accurately measuring window well covers is crucial to ensure a proper fit when you install window well covers. Understand the egress window code IRC requirements and measurements you need and consider all aspects of your egress window type when selecting a cover for a seamless blend with your home’s design.
