Home Construction-Window Wells

[Berzerker]

We just got hit with 3-4 inches of rain and for the second time this year, water and dirt (mud) flowed into our window wells on one side of the house filling the wells up once the drains were clogged with mud which I spent a couple hours bailing. The water is coming from under the walls too but thats a grade problem I think.

I was a bit perplexed to see the window wells didn't have bottoms but instead relied on soil. Thats why the well drains keep getting clogged, water and soil run into the wells from the bottom. They aren't securely attached to the wall so water comes in from the side as well. We definitely have to build the grade back up but I'm thinking new window wells with bottoms and well covers are needed too.

Anyone familiar with this stuff? Sigh...

Oh yeah, in addition to the low spot that has formed over years of settling, one roof drain extension right at the corner with the worst problem probably isnt draining properly if at all, so an immediate measure I will take asap is a new drain pipe/hose leading away from the corner.

[Berzerker]

harumph

[Ming]

Dig out some of the soil and put in a few inch layer of small to midsized rocks... with the drain sticking up a half inch above the layer of rocks. This will stop the mud and make it easier to clear off the top of the drain should something block it.

And also seal off the sides of the well to stop water from coming in the sides.

[Berzerker]

Bummer, the drains are really clogged this time. I spent a few hours today/tonite replacing a downspout extension and trying to build up a grade to keep water from settling next to the wells, but those friggin drains are like cemented with rock and mud. I'm gonna have to dig the wells out to make room for a layer of gravel like you said. I did get some masonry bolts and silicone to try and seal the sides.

My legs havent hurt like this for a long time, and the big July 4th golf tournament is right around the corner

[onodera]

Why did you build your house below ground?

[Asher]

Do they not have basements in Soviet Russia?

[onodera]

Do they not have basements in Soviet Russia?

No. Most people live in apartment blocks, so the basements are windowless, and country houses are built to avoid flooding. Any basement entrances they have are inside. No windows, too.

[Flubber]

wow sounds like a major drainage problem-- Is the grade done correctly? ( Our land slopes away slightly from our house-- its not much but you combine that with some crush stone everything seems to drain away -- our basement windows though are above grade so we don't have that window well issue)

The wells I have seen thogh seem to be made of a portion of drain pipe with a fair bit of crushed stone in the bottom of the well.


Why is there mud flowing around?

[Asher]

No. Most people live in apartment blocks, so the basements are windowless, and country houses are built to avoid flooding. Any basement entrances they have are inside. No windows, too.

The basements in Russia are as cold and dark as the hearts of Russians themselves.

[Flubber]

No. Most people live in apartment blocks, so the basements are windowless, and country houses are built to avoid flooding. Any basement entrances they have are inside. No windows, too.

If you have a basement, why not put in a window?

[Berzerker]

Why did you build your house below ground?

tornado country

Is the grade done correctly?

that was our problem, over time the house etc settled and the grade we had reversed direction just enough to add to the problem. Unfortunately all I had was sand to rebuild the grade but its been holding up. I also re-dug a drainage ditch parallel to the wall and removed an old drainage hose that was actually feeding water under a deck that was put in as an afterthought. I just gotta keep the drains cleaned and the water moving downhill, we're okay until we get a clog somewhere.

[OzzyKP]

No. Most people live in apartment blocks, so the basements are windowless, and country houses are built to avoid flooding. Any basement entrances they have are inside. No windows, too.

Sounds depressing.

[onodera]

If you have a basement, why not put in a window?

See the original post.

[Asher]

It's not a problem with a well-constructed house.

How do you get out of a basement in Russia when there's a fire?

[ColdWizard]

They die heroically while fighting the fire to save their comrades.