Window wells and ladders
The well is half of the escape route. It has to be big enough to stand in and easy to climb out of.
The window well is the dug-out space outside a basement window, held back by a liner made of galvanized steel, plastic, composite or stacked stone. Around Minot, wells need to keep dirt and water away from the window and still give someone room to climb out in the middle of a winter night.
What size does an egress well need to be?
The City of Minot's egress handout lists these minimums:
- 9 square feet of horizontal area
- 36 inches of projection out from the wall and 36 inches of width
- Enough room for the window to open all the way
- A permanently fixed ladder or steps if the well is deeper than 44 inches below the adjacent ground
- The ladder can intrude no more than 6 inches into the required well dimensions
Which well material is best?
| Type | Good points | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Galvanized steel | Common and affordable | Rust where the coating is scraped, plain look |
| Molded plastic or composite | Won't rust, may include built-in steps | Can bow if backfill pushes hard on it |
| Stone or block | Looks like landscaping | Heavier and slower to build |
Why does well drainage matter here?
A well is a hole beside the foundation, and water that collects in it heads straight for the window. In Minot, that water may come from spring snowmelt, summer storms, or a downspout aimed the wrong way. Wells normally get a layer of washed rock in the bottom, and some installers connect the bottom to the foundation drain tile or a sump when the house has one. On tight clay till that doesn't soak water away quickly, ask what your installer recommends.
Signs your well needs work
- Water pooling in the well after rain or melt
- Rust holes, a bent liner or a well pulling away from the wall
- Soil or rock spilling in over the top
- A well deeper than 44 inches with no ladder
- The window can't swing all the way open inside the well
We don't give prices. Each installer prices the job after measuring the wall, checking the soil and seeing what sits outside that part of the foundation, so a number over the phone is only a ballpark until then.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
Do I need a ladder in my window well?
Under Minot's egress handout, yes if the well is deeper than 44 inches below the adjacent ground. The ladder or steps must be permanently fixed and usable with the window open.
Can you just replace the well and keep the window?
Often, if the window already meets egress size. An installer can measure the opening and tell you whether a new well alone will pass.
Related services
- Basement egress window installation
- Basement window enlargement
- Window well covers
- Basement bedroom egress compliance
More background: Minot egress window guide.
Need a basement bedroom that passes inspection?
Call and a Minot-area egress installer will look at the wall and the yard, explain what the code asks for, and quote the job.