Boulder, Colorado
Window Well Replacement in Boulder, CO
Boulder gets real winters and, as 2013 proved, serious rain. If your window wells are rusting, leaking or too small for a basement bedroom, window well replacement in Boulder gives you a sturdier well, better drainage and a cover that keeps snow where it belongs.
What Boulder Weather Does to Window Wells
Boulder averages roughly 88 to 93 inches of snow a season, and every storm piles some of it into window wells. When it melts, that water has nowhere to go but down. On September 12, 2013, the city recorded 9.08 inches of rain, and wells without working drains filled fast. In Boulder, window well replacement is often about handling water as much as holding back soil.
Then there's the soil. The Colorado Geological Survey calls expansive soil Colorado's most significant geologic hazard, and bentonite clays can swell up to 20% when wet. Freeze-thaw cycles add another push every winter. Over the years, that movement bends thin wells, opens gaps at the foundation and chokes old drains with silt.
Snow packed to the glass
If drifts fill the well and press against the window every winter, the well needs a proper cover.
Water stains inside
Watermarks on the basement wall or sill below the well suggest water is getting past it.
Sunken gravel bed
Gravel that has washed away or sunk usually means the drain underneath has clogged or failed.
Too small to climb out
A shallow, narrow well won't work for a basement bedroom, which needs a proper egress window and well.
Window Well Replacement Choices for Boulder Homes
Heavy snow, older homes and historic districts all shape what works in Boulder. Here's what we install.
Boman Kemp Window Wells
Boman Kemp wells are a dependable replacement for tired, rusted wells on Boulder homes, holding back soil through long snowy seasons and freeze-thaw swings.
Boman Kemp window wells
Rockwell Window Wells
A Rockwell well's stone-look composite face looks right at home beside garden beds and natural landscaping, a welcome change from plain metal in Boulder yards.
Rockwell window wells
Timber Window Wells
Custom timber wells fit larger egress openings and sloped yards, and their natural look pairs nicely with mature trees and stone around Boulder homes.
Timber window wells
Window Well Sump Pumps
Where a well fills during heavy rain or snowmelt, a window well sump pump moves water away before it can reach your Boulder basement window.
Window well sump pumps
Egress Window Installation
Adding a basement bedroom calls for an egress window, and we size the opening, well and ladder to the 2024 codes Boulder now enforces.
Egress window installation
Covers, Grates and Locks
Sturdy covers and grates keep Boulder's heavy snow out of the well, while locks and ladders add security and an easy way out.
Window well coversBoulder Codes and Historic District Rules
Boulder adopted the 2024 International Codes, effective August 1, 2025. Egress windows and basement bedrooms are planned around those rules, and we take care of planning and permits when a project adds an egress window or changes a window opening.
Boulder also has 10 historic districts. Exterior changes to landmarks and properties in those districts need a Landmark Alteration Certificate, so a new egress window or a visible well change on one of those homes may need review before work starts.
Rules can vary with your address and the scope of work. During your free estimate, we check what applies to your home, including whether it sits in a historic district. If it does, we factor that review into the plan so there are no surprises once the project is underway.
Boulder Conditions
Living With Boulder's Snow and Storms
Boulder sits about 25 miles northwest of Denver, and its winters are snowy. With roughly 88 to 93 inches in a typical season, uncovered window wells turn into snow catchers. A good cover keeps the snow out while still letting light into the basement, and it means a lot less digging out around your windows after a storm.
The September 2013 flood showed how much water Boulder can get at once. A well that drains properly, paired with a sump pump where the ground needs it, gives that water a way out before it finds the basement. Freeze-thaw swings between storms make a dependable drain even more important.
Boulder at a Glance
- Building code2024 International Codes, effective Aug. 1, 2025
- Historic districts10, with Landmark Alteration Certificates for exterior changes
- SnowfallAbout 88 to 93 inches per season
- 2013 flood9.08 inches of rain on Sept. 12
- Distance from DenverAbout 25 miles northwest
How Window Well Replacement Works
1
Free estimate
Call or send photos of your wells. We measure, check drainage and talk through options and pricing.
2
Planning and permits
We take care of planning and any permits your project needs before work starts.
3
Remove and replace
We dig out the old well, set the new one to your foundation and add gravel for drainage.
4
Finish and clean up
Covers, ladders or grates go on, and we backfill and clean up so your yard looks finished.
Window Well Replacement FAQs for Boulder
Do I need approval to change a window well on a historic Boulder home?
Boulder requires a Landmark Alteration Certificate for exterior changes to landmarks and properties in its 10 historic districts. Whether your project needs one depends on the property and the work, so we check during your estimate before anything is scheduled.
Which codes does Boulder use for egress windows?
Boulder adopted the 2024 International Codes, effective August 1, 2025. We design egress windows, wells and ladders to meet them and take care of permits when the opening changes.
How do I keep snow out of my window wells?
A well-fitted cover is the simplest answer. Clear covers block snow and leaves while still letting daylight in, and grates or locking covers add safety.
Can you add a sump pump to an existing window well?
Often, yes. If your well collects water during storms or snowmelt, we can add a window well sump pump or improve the drain as part of the replacement.
Schedule Window Well Replacement in Boulder
Get a free estimate and a clear plan for your wells, covers and drainage. Call (720) 675-9339.
Serving Boulder and Nearby Towns
Looking for help a little closer to home? We serve these areas too.