Window well covers
Covers keep a central Minnesota well clear of snow and debris, but they have to let someone get out. Here's how to pick one.
In a city that gets close to four feet of snow most winters, an open egress well can fill with drifts, ice, leaves and the occasional rabbit. A cover keeps the well clear and lets daylight in, but the code is strict about one thing: it can't trap anyone inside.
What does the code say about covers?
Under the Minnesota Residential Code, as summarized by DLI, bars, grilles and covers over an escape opening can't reduce the required clear opening, and they must release or come off from inside without a key, tool, special knowledge or extra force. DLI also notes the code doesn't require a guard or cover over a well, but recommends that homeowners think about fall risk and plan for clearing snow.
Types of covers
- Clear polycarbonate domes or flat covers that shed rain and snow and let light in
- Steel grates that block falls but let snow through
- Hinged or lift-off covers designed to push open from below
- Custom-sized covers for stone, block or odd-shaped wells
What to ask before buying
- Can an adult or older child push it open from inside the well?
- What snow load is it rated for?
- Will it fit the well's exact shape and size?
- Does it lock down against wind without locking anyone in?
Winter care
Even with a cover, heavy snow can pile on top and pin it down. After big storms, clear the cover and the area around it, and make sure it isn't frozen shut. Test it from the inside once a season.
The contractor prices the job after seeing the wall, the yard and the room. We don't quote prices, and anything said over the phone before a site visit is only a ballpark.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
Are window well covers required in Minnesota?
No. DLI says the code doesn't require guards over window wells, but any cover you add must not block escape or rescue.
Can I put a lock on my well cover?
Only if it releases from inside without a key, tool or special knowledge. A cover that locks someone in fails the code.
Related services
- Basement egress window installation
- Cutting and enlarging openings
- Window wells and ladders
- Basement bedroom code compliance
More background: St. Cloud egress window guide.
Turning a basement room into a real bedroom?
Call and a local egress contractor will look at the wall, the yard and the permit with you.