Lakewood, Colorado
Window Well Replacement in Lakewood, CO
Lakewood spells out exactly how big a basement window well has to be, right down to the ladder rungs. Denver Window Wells builds every window well replacement in Lakewood around those numbers, using Boman Kemp, Rockwell or custom timber wells from a licensed and insured crew.
Why Lakewood's Window Wells Are Showing Their Age
Lakewood sits just west of Denver and incorporated in 1969 with more than 90,000 residents already in place. The city's own comprehensive plan says most of its housing was built between 1969 and 1980, and most residents live in single-family homes. That puts a lot of basement window wells at 45 years or older. Old metal wells corrode, pull away from the foundation and let soil slide in, which is when window well replacement makes sense.
The ground does its share of the damage. Lakewood designs foundations for a 36-inch frost depth, and the Colorado Geological Survey reports that bentonite clays under many populated parts of Colorado can swell up to 20 percent when wet. Snowmelt, spring storms and freeze-thaw cycles keep that soil moving against the well all year.
Gap at the foundation
A visible space between the well and the house lets runoff drop straight down beside the window.
Rust holes near the bottom
Corrosion along the base of an older metal well lets wet soil push through into the well.
Well too shallow to fit
The well doesn't reach 36 inches out from the wall, so an escape window can't open fully.
No way to climb out
A deep well with no ladder or steps makes the basement window a poor emergency exit.
Window Well Replacement Products for Lakewood Homes
Every option below can be sized to Lakewood's egress well dimensions. We'll help you choose based on your window, your yard and how the well will be used.
Boman Kemp Window Wells
Boman Kemp wells are a sturdy upgrade for the aging metal wells common on Lakewood homes from the 1970s, and they come in egress-ready sizes.
Boman Kemp window wells
Rockwell Window Wells
Rockwell stone-look composite wells give a finished look near patios and garden beds, a nice touch around the foothills and greenbelts Lakewood is known for.
Rockwell window wells
Timber Window Wells
Custom timber wells can be built with steps and sized for wide or unusual openings, handy when a standard well can't meet the 36-inch projection.
Timber window wells
Window Well Sump Pumps
A window well sump pump or improved drainage keeps snowmelt and storm runoff from standing in the well against the basement glass.
Window well sump pumps
Egress Window Installation
Lakewood requires a structural engineer to evaluate and design any new or enlarged basement opening, so we plan the engineering, window and well together.
Egress window installation
Covers, Grates and Locks
Lakewood allows well covers and grates when they release from inside the well without a key or tool, and we install ones built that way.
Window well coversLakewood Permits and Egress Well Rules
Lakewood enforces the 2021 International Residential Code with local amendments in Title 14 of its municipal code. The city's homeowner permit guide says that other than very minor cosmetic work, all construction requires a building permit, and permits are submitted online through eTRAKiT. Basement finish work also needs a permit before work starts.
For egress, Lakewood's handout requires a structural engineer to evaluate the site and design the cut whenever an opening is created or enlarged. The sill can be no higher than 44 inches above the floor. The well must have at least 9 square feet of area, project at least 36 inches from the wall and be at least 36 inches wide, with a permanent ladder once it's deeper than 44 inches.
We take care of planning and permits for egress projects and install every well to code. For a straight well swap, we check what Lakewood requires at your address during your free estimate, so the plan covers everything up front.
Around Lakewood
Foothills Weather, Gulches and Lakewood Basements
Lakewood stretches from the Denver line west to the foothills, with Green Mountain, Bear Creek Lake Park and the Bear Creek Greenbelt inside city limits. Bear Creek, Turkey Creek and several gulches, including Lakewood Gulch and Weir Gulch, run through town. Jefferson County was also among the counties covered by the September 2013 floods. Water has plenty of ways to reach a basement window.
Lakewood designs roofs for a 30 psf ground snow load, so heavy snow is part of the plan here. Snow that drifts into an open well melts right against the window. A fitted cover, a clear drain and a well sealed tight to the foundation keep that water outside where it belongs.
Lakewood at a Glance
- CountyJefferson (most populous city in the county)
- Incorporated1969
- Building code2021 IRC with local amendments
- Egress well size9 sq ft minimum, 36 in. projection and width
- Frost depth36 inches
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 Lakewood
How big does an egress window well have to be in Lakewood?
Lakewood's egress handout calls for at least 9 square feet of area, a projection of at least 36 inches from the foundation and a clear width of at least 36 inches. Wells deeper than 44 inches need a permanently attached ladder. We size every egress well to meet those rules.
Does Lakewood require an engineer for a new egress window?
Yes. When a basement opening is created or enlarged, Lakewood requires a structural engineer to evaluate the site and design the foundation cut and reinforcement. We coordinate that step and the permit as part of the project.
Can I put a locking cover on my window well?
Lakewood allows covers, grates and bars over egress wells as long as they can be opened from inside the well without a key, tool or extra force. We can add covers that meet that rule and still keep snow and debris out.
Do I need a permit to replace a window well in Lakewood?
Lakewood's homeowner guide says all construction other than very minor cosmetic work needs a building permit, and egress projects clearly do. For a simple well replacement, we confirm the requirements for your address during the estimate and take care of any permit needed.
Get a Free Estimate for Window Well Replacement in Lakewood
Call (720) 675-9339 to set up a free estimate. Financing is available on approved credit.
Window Well Replacement Around Lakewood
We also replace window wells in these communities near Lakewood.