6 Best Window Well Covers For Preventing Flooding That Keep Basements Dry
Prevent basement flooding with the right window well cover. Our guide reviews 6 top-rated options designed to keep heavy rain out and your home dry.
There’s nothing quite like the smell of a damp basement after a hard spring rain, and I don’t mean that in a good way. One minute you’re admiring the storm watering your fields, the next you’re discovering a puddle spreading from your basement window well. That puddle can quickly ruin stored seed, canning supplies, or even compromise your home’s foundation.
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Why a Good Window Well Cover is Essential
A window well is basically a hole dug right next to your foundation. Without a solid cover, it’s an open invitation for water, collecting rain and snowmelt and funneling it directly toward the weakest point: your basement window. A simple downpour can overwhelm a well’s drainage in minutes, forcing water through seals and into your space.
But it’s not just about water. An uncovered well collects leaves, dirt, and other debris, which clogs your drain and turns the bottom into a muddy swamp. It also becomes a trap for small animals and a serious tripping hazard for anyone walking near the house. A good cover solves all these problems at once, acting as a shield against the elements and a safety measure.
Think of it as an investment, not just an expense. The cost of a quality cover is a fraction of what you’d spend on professional water damage cleanup, mold remediation, or replacing ruined supplies. Protecting that below-ground space is just as important as maintaining your roof.
Window Well Experts: Best Custom-Fit Solution
Old farmhouses and outbuildings rarely have standard-sized anything, and window wells are no exception. If you’re dealing with a well made of fieldstone, concrete block, or just an odd rectangular shape, a one-size-fits-all cover from a big box store simply won’t work. This is where a custom-fit solution shines.
Window Well Experts builds covers to your exact measurements from high-strength polycarbonate. You provide the dimensions, and they create a cover that sits perfectly flush, leaving no gaps for water or debris to sneak through. This precise fit is critical for creating a truly watertight seal against your foundation.
The downside is cost and lead time; custom work is never the cheapest or fastest option. However, for a non-standard well, the alternative is a leaky, poorly-fitting cover that offers a false sense of security. Sometimes, paying for a perfect fit is the only practical choice.
Tuff-Cover Sloped Cover for Heavy Rain & Snow
If your property gets hammered with heavy rain or snow, a flat cover can become your enemy. Water and snowmelt will pool on top, adding immense weight and eventually finding a way to leak through. The Tuff-Cover sloped design solves this problem elegantly.
The gentle slope actively sheds water and snow away from the house, directing it onto the surrounding ground where it can drain naturally. This is especially important during the spring thaw, when a massive amount of melting snow can be released in a short period. The design prevents ice dams from forming against your foundation, which can cause serious cracking over time.
These covers are typically made from durable polycarbonate that can handle a heavy snow load without cracking. They aren’t always the most low-profile option, but their performance in harsh weather is undeniable. For anyone in a northern climate, a sloped cover is a smart, preventative measure against the worst winter can throw at you.
MacCourt Low-Profile Cover for Durability
Around a farm or homestead, things get bumped, dropped, and run over. A flimsy window well cover won’t last a season. MacCourt’s low-profile covers are known for their toughness, made from a durable plastic that resists cracking and yellowing from UV exposure.
Their low-profile design means they don’t stick up much, reducing the risk of tripping or getting caught on a mower or wheelbarrow. While they can handle a decent amount of weight, they aren’t designed to be walked on regularly. They offer a good balance between strength, appearance, and affordability for standard-sized metal or plastic window wells.
These are a fantastic general-purpose solution. They keep out the rain, snow, and debris effectively without breaking the bank. Think of them as the reliable workhorse of window well covers.
Shape-Well Unbreakable Cover: Walk-On Strength
Some window wells are located in high-traffic areas—along a main walkway, near a barn door, or on a patio. In these spots, a standard cover is an accident waiting to happen. The Shape-Well Unbreakable Cover is built specifically to handle foot traffic and heavy loads.
Made from extremely thick, high-impact polycarbonate, these covers can support hundreds of pounds without flexing or cracking. This means you, your family, or even a wandering animal can walk across it without a second thought. This level of strength provides peace of mind that goes beyond just keeping water out.
This durability comes at a higher price point, of course. You don’t need this level of strength for a window well tucked away behind some bushes. But for any well that’s part of your daily path, the investment in a walk-on cover is a critical safety upgrade.
Wellcraft Steel Grate for Security & Airflow
Sometimes, your primary concern isn’t water, but security and airflow. A steel grate is the perfect solution for keeping larger animals, debris, and unwanted visitors out of a window well while still allowing air to circulate into the basement. This can be important for reducing dampness and musty smells in areas used for storage.
The major trade-off is that a grate alone does nothing to stop rain or snow. It’s designed to let water pass right through. For this reason, many people pair a steel grate with a separate, clear plastic cover that can be placed on top during the wet seasons.
This two-part system offers the best of both worlds: security and airflow year-round, with waterproofing when you need it. A steel grate is also incredibly durable and will likely outlast the house itself. It’s a specialized tool for a specific job, not an all-in-one waterproofer.
AmeriLux Bubble Cover: An Affordable Option
Not every window needs a fortress guarding it. For smaller windows or those in less critical, sheltered locations, a simple bubble or dome cover is often more than enough. The AmeriLux Bubble Cover is a classic, affordable choice that gets the basic job done.
These lightweight acrylic covers are designed to fit over the top of the entire window well opening. Their domed shape helps shed water and leaves, and they are effective at keeping light to moderate rain out. They are easy to install and are by far the most budget-friendly option available.
The downside is durability. They can crack under a heavy snow load or become brittle from sun exposure over many years. They also aren’t meant to be stepped on. But for a quick, cheap, and effective fix, a bubble cover is a perfectly practical solution that beats having no cover at all.
Installation Tips for a Watertight Seal
Buying the best cover on the market is useless if you install it improperly. A watertight seal depends on a few simple but crucial steps. First, thoroughly clean the window well. Scoop out all the leaves, dirt, and debris so the drain is clear and you have a clean surface to work with.
Next, check the area where the cover will meet the house. The siding and the top lip of the well liner must be clean and solid. If your cover is designed to be screwed into the foundation or siding, use a high-quality outdoor silicone caulk in the drill holes before you insert the screws to prevent any water from seeping in.
Get a long-lasting, waterproof seal in kitchens and bathrooms with GE Advanced Silicone Caulk. This flexible sealant offers 5X stronger adhesion and is ready for water exposure in just 30 minutes.
For covers that just sit on top, consider adding a foam weatherstripping seal along the edge that rests against the house. This can close small, uneven gaps and create a much better barrier against wind-driven rain. A tight seal is the final, critical step to ensuring your basement stays dry.
Ultimately, choosing the right window well cover is about matching the product to your specific situation—your climate, your budget, and the location of the window. A dry basement protects your home’s value and the valuable supplies you store there. Taking the time to cover your wells properly is a small chore that prevents a massive headache down the road.
