The bottom of our basement windows are 8-10 inches below grade. Each window has had the glass replaced with wood. Frech air ducts, dryer vent, electrical and plumbing service and the like have been run through the wood. I am concerned about drainage. Each window has a shallow well that has been filled in with bricks and dirt over the years. I am concerend that water will accumulate in the wells and seep down into the foundation. I have tentatively ruled out digging out the wells to create positive drainage due to proximity to fencing. Is it a good practise to cover the window openings (with wood or brick?) flush with the building (while extending all vents) and then filing in the wells with dirt to mach the positive drainge adjacent to the windows. The house is a 1880 brick victorian.
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Replies
If you were to dig out those wells, you might find that they have some sort of drainage setup already. Clay pipes, or who knows what. May be 'unclogable'.
Filling the window in will work, if you have no interest in restoring it to a window.
Don't block window area up with wood and bury it though. Go with the brick or other masonry below grade.
I would start by cleaning out the wells, digging down a bit and putting some gravel in the bottom to promote drainage. Perhaps some sort of plastic cover would keep rain out, especially if they are behind a fence where they wouldn't be too unsightly. I thinks as much light and air into a basement as possible is a good thing, so the windows may be well worth saving.
Al Mollitor, Sharon MA