Expert: Bruce E. Johnson - 3/16/2011

Question
Our basement window and well leak.  The only solution seems to be installing an inside drain and pump system which is very expensive.  What type of contractor can I hire to just fill the window in and make it look like it was never there?  What is the approximate cost? will there still be potential for leaking through the cement after the area is filled in?

Answer
Hi Donna, you didn't say how big the window was so estimating a cost will have to be generic.  Your window well construction wasn't mentioned.  I am assuming it is the metal kind?  Most window wells have a gravel base under them to allow any water getting in them to percolate out to keep them from filling up with water during the rain.  It's possible that the gravel unde the window well has lost its abilitiy to do this.  As dirt is washed into the gravel it eventually gets packed and hardens over the years making the gravel more like concrete and takes away the gravel's ability to drain water.  Another problem you may be having is with your footing drain.  A footing drain is put around a basement foundation to drain water away from the foundation to keep the hydrostatic pressure of the ground water outside from seeping into your basement walls.  But to answer your question.  A masonry contractor or concrete contractor can fill in your window if you want it removed.  Once the patch is complete the area around the patch and the patch itself is coated with heavy tar call "mastic".  Then while the mastic is still damp and sticky a layer of rubber or impervious felt is pressed onto the mastic and then another layer of mastic applied over that.  The dirt is then filled back in and your window is gone for good.  Cost wise?  It is a one day job for a couple of guys to dig out the window well, remove the window and fill it in.  It involves around a hundred dollars in materials, the old window and well need to be disposed of.  Then these same people will have to come back in a few days after the masonry mortar and/or concrete has cured enough for the mastic to be applied.  That will take several hours to be done properly.  So all together you are looking at at least five hundred dollars in labor depending on pricing in your area.  Total cost of project should be under a thousand dollars and this will not include any interior wall finish work to cover up the bare masonry/concrete where the window used to be.

Another option would be to dig out the old window well and dig out the gravel drain bed.  Apply mastic and sealer all around the window and caulk it as needed.  Install the window well and new gravel or crushed rock.  The digging out part will have to be done with either "fix".  You might want to dig it all out first and see if the gravel is impacted and not draining properly and determine how far you want to take the repair work after that.  Some window wells actually have  a pipe that goes down to and connects to the footing drain around your foundation that pipe may be full of dirt and not working properly that can be examined also at the time of excavation.

I hope this information helps, please feel free to write again regarding this or other matters, sincerely, bruce e johnson..bejohnsonconsulting.com