Why Choose A RockWell Egress Window Well For Your Finished Basement

Having a finished basement is a great way to add usable space, increase your home's market value, and improve overall comfort. If you are planning to finish your basement, save yourself time and hassle by installing one of our state-of-the-art RockWell Egress Window wells with American Waterworks for safety, natural light, and long-lasting protection. 

What Is An Egress Window Well

All finished basements should have a proper egress window well. While a standard window well is a recessed space in front of a below-ground basement window, an egress window well is typically larger, deeper, and sturdier (Albarda, 2024). In an emergency, an egress window helps provide a safe exit from basement living spaces and ground-level windows. These window wells are also equipped with ladders or built-in steps, helping make escape easier when it matters most. Along with safety, egress window wells help keep mud, debris, and water away from your basement window while bringing in more natural light, so your basement feels brighter and more inviting. 

Why Your Finished Basement Needs An Egress Window Well

First and foremost, building codes often require finished basement living areas to have an emergency egress opening that is large enough, easy to access, and connected to the outside. In the case of a fire or other emergency, an egress window provides an escape route from your home. Egress window wells also keep dirt, water, bugs, rodents, and other unwanted debris away from your basement windows. They can also improve ventilation by allowing fresh outside air into your basement, helping reduce stale or musty odors. Not only does American Waterworks provide the elite RockWell Egress Window Well, but we also have professionally trained Design Specialists and crews to help find the best fit for your home. 

Why Choose RockWell Egress Window Wells from American Waterworks?

Finding a trusted installer for egress window wells can feel like a daunting task. Lucky for you, American Waterworks is a certified installer of RockWell Egress Window Wells. In addition to helping meet IRC egress code requirements, RockWell Egress Window Wells offer durable, attractive features for finished basements:

• One-Piece, Rigid Construction

The most common window well design uses flat plastic pieces that snap together to form the walls and steps. The issue is durability, especially when the wells need to hold back water and heavy earth. RockWell Window Wells feature a one-piece, rigid construction that will not collapse from backfill or allow water to leak through the well walls. They are also UV-stable, rustproof, and rot-proof. 

• Engineered for Safety

As mentioned before, RockWell Window Wells are designed to support IRC egress code requirements, giving you and your family a direct escape route from inhabited rooms in the basement. For window wells that are 44 inches below ground level, IRC egress code requires steps or a permanently affixed ladder to help occupants exit the basement. RockWell Egress Window Wells feature durable, built-in steps that make it easier for your family to exit the basement in an emergency. In the case of first responders, it allows easy entry into the home during a disaster.

• Durable Window

The polycarbonate safety cover helps keep leaves and debris out while allowing natural sunlight and fresh air into your basement. It also helps your basement feel larger and more inviting. While the cover is not intended for regular foot traffic, it can hold up to 500 pounds and help prevent injuries from accidental falls into the window well. 

• Beautiful Stone Texture

RockWell has replicated the look of real stone, so when you look out of your basement window, you are not staring at an unattractive plastic well. These egress window wells also add curb appeal and provide a more pleasing view from both inside and outside your home. 

With a RockWell Egress Window Well, you can help provide a safer escape route for your family while adding value, natural light, and a better finished look to your basement. Ready to get started? Sign up for your FREE, no-obligation estimate with one of our professionally trained Design Specialists today! 

Sources:

Albarda, V. (2024, February 8). What are Window Wells?. Lowes. https://www.lowes.com/n/buying-guide/what-are-window-wells