ADD PROTECTION TO YOUR HOME WITH A WINDOW WELL COVER

Window covers also keep rain, dirt, dust, animals and other harmful materials out of a basement. Most styles are strong and durable, creating an impenetrable barrier between the outside and the inside.

Melting snow is a particular problem in basements. Window wells that are deep and aged are more susceptible to letting water get through, but with a strong window well cover, the basement will stay dry throughout the wettest periods.

Areas with high amounts of snow each winter are notorious for causing basement flooding through unprotected window wells. When water gets into a basement, it can create the perfect damp conditions necessary for the growth of mold, so this is another reason people install basement window covers.

Basements under normal conditions don't get enough proper ventilation and tend to be damp. Mold experts will tell you that if you take a damp environment and keep it unventilated, mold is almost surely to grow. The presence of mold in a home can cause numerous health problems for the people who live there including upper respiratory troubles, headaches and asthma attacks for people who have asthma.

In areas of the country prone to flooding, solid covers over basement windows can save the homeowner thousands of dollars in water damage restoration work. The costs vary, but cleanup of a flooded basement can run between $3,000 and $5,000.

Most window cover manufacturers offer a variety of product styles. A good manufacturer will be able to customize every cover for an exact fit. Most make covers for metal, wood and masonry window wells.

Covers for metal window wells, for example, are made to fit round, square and straight-style wells. Other designs are used when the basement window doesn't extend above the metal well. Some styles are designed to sit on the ground around the outside edge of the well.

Another reason to use a secure covering around a basement window is safety. Window wells are notorious for causing sprained ankles and other lower body injuries when people step on them. With a barrier around the well, injuries are easily prevented.

Truly, there are a number of reasons many homeowners invest in covers for their exposed basement windows. The installation process is easy, the covers look sharp, and both basements and people stay safer.