Fort Collins, Colorado
Window Well Replacement in Fort Collins, CO
Fort Collins spells out what an egress window well needs: a minimum size, a ladder for deep wells and a drain to the foundation drain. Our window well replacement in Fort Collins brings in Boman Kemp, Rockwell or custom timber wells built to meet those rules.
Why Window Well Replacement in Fort Collins Often Means an Upgrade
Fort Collins adopted the 2024 building codes in April 2026, so most existing wells went in under older standards. A shallow, narrow or undrained well may have passed when the house was built, but it can fall short of today's rules for a basement bedroom. Add decades of rust, cracking and settling, and the well stops doing its basic job of keeping soil and water away from the window.
Fort Collins sits at the north end of the swelling-soil belt the Colorado Geological Survey maps from Fort Collins to Pueblo. Those clays can swell up to 20 percent when wet. Spring snowmelt, heavy storms and freeze-thaw cycles keep pushing on well walls, which is why bowing, cracking and separation from the foundation are so common.
Well under 36 inches
A well smaller than 36 inches may not meet Fort Collins egress rules for a basement bedroom.
Deep well, no ladder
Fort Collins requires a ladder in egress wells deeper than 44 inches, and many older wells have none.
No drain connection
Water pooling after storms suggests the well isn't draining to the foundation drain as egress rules require.
Rust and separation
Corroded metal or a gap at the foundation lets soil and runoff slide down toward the window.
Window Well Replacement Options for Fort Collins Homes
Every well we install is sized and drained for its job. For egress openings, that means meeting Fort Collins' specific requirements.
Boman Kemp Window Wells
Boman Kemp galvanized steel wells come in egress sizes that meet the 36-inch rule and stand up to Northern Colorado winters.
Boman Kemp window wells
Rockwell Window Wells
Rockwell stone-look composite wells come in egress sizes too, and they blend into landscaped yards near patios and garden beds.
Rockwell window wells
Timber Window Wells
Custom timber wells can be built to the exact dimensions an enlarged Fort Collins opening needs, with a ladder added when the well is deep.
Timber window wells
Window Well Sump Pumps
Fort Collins requires egress wells to drain to the foundation drain, and we add a window well sump pump where extra water handling makes sense.
Window well sump pumps
Egress Window Installation
Enlarging an opening in Fort Collins takes a Fenestration Permit and an engineer letter, and we take care of the planning and permit steps.
Egress window installation
Covers, Grates and Locks
Covers and grates keep snow and debris out of deep wells, and egress-rated covers can still be opened from below.
Window well coversFort Collins Egress and Window Permit Rules
Fort Collins adopted the 2024 building codes effective April 1, 2026. The city requires a Fenestration Permit for replacement windows, new windows and egress windows. If a project enlarges a window opening, the city also calls for an engineer letter before the work moves forward.
For egress window wells, the rules are specific: the well must be at least 36 inches, a ladder is required when the well is deeper than 44 inches, and the well has to drain to the foundation drain. Buildings 50 years or older can also go through historic review.
We build to these rules and take care of the planning and permits, including the Fenestration Permit when a window is part of the job. If you're only replacing a well, we confirm what Fort Collins requires for your address during the free estimate.
Northern Colorado Notes
Floods, Older Homes and Fort Collins Basements
About 60 miles north of Denver, Fort Collins remembers the 1997 Spring Creek flood, a reminder of how much water one storm can bring. A window well is often one of the lowest openings in a home's foundation, so a working drain and a solid cover matter here as much as anywhere on the Front Range.
If your home is 50 years old or more, exterior changes may involve historic review. We factor that into planning from the start, along with the Fenestration Permit and any engineer letter the project needs, so a well replacement or new egress window comes with no surprises once the work is scheduled.
Fort Collins at a Glance
- Building code2024 codes, effective April 1, 2026
- Window permitFenestration Permit for replacement, new and egress windows
- Egress well rules36-inch well, ladder if deeper than 44 inches, drain to foundation drain
- Historic reviewBuildings 50 years or older
- Distance from DenverAbout 60 miles north
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 Fort Collins
Do I need a permit to replace windows in Fort Collins?
Yes. Fort Collins requires a Fenestration Permit for replacement windows, new windows and egress windows. If the opening gets bigger, an engineer letter is required too. For a well replacement alone, we confirm the requirements for your address during the estimate.
When does a Fort Collins window well need a ladder?
When the egress well is deeper than 44 inches. Egress wells also need to be at least 36 inches and drain to the foundation drain. We size and install every egress well to meet those rules.
Will historic review affect my project?
It can if your building is 50 years old or more. Fort Collins reviews changes to older buildings, so we check that early as part of planning.
Do you serve Fort Collins from Denver?
Yes, Fort Collins is part of the Front Range area we serve. Call (720) 675-9339 to set up a free estimate.
Need Window Well Replacement in Fort Collins? Let's Talk.
Call (720) 675-9339 for a free estimate. We'll check your wells against current Fort Collins rules and explain your options.
Northern Colorado Areas Near Fort Collins
We also serve these communities near Fort Collins: