How To Attach Window Well Covers
If you need to replace your window well covers you'll quickly notice that the off the shelf options can exist expensive! In this article, I'll be roofing how to build your own ready of DIY window well covers from woods for a fraction of the toll.
Whatsoever successful DIY project requires a scrap of planning, so here's a quick list of the tools that you'll find useful for this project.
Tools & Supplies Needed
Tools:
- Drill or impact driver
- Tap measurer
- Saw
- Sawhorses (optional just handy!)
Supplies:
- 1″ x iv″ pressure level treated board
- 2″ x 4″ force per unit area treated board
- ii″ outdoor wood screws
Tip: I'll show you how to find out exactly how many boards are needed once you've had a run a risk to measure your window well(s).
Steps for DIY Window Well Covers
Step 1: Mensurate your Window Wells
In club to know exactly how many boards will be needed for the project, you'll demand to get out and measure out the size of your window wells. Brand sure to measure each and every window well that will need a new comprehend equally it's common for a home to have more one size.
There may too be variations between each that require slight differences in the associates, so make a few measurements, jot them down somewhere handy, and become set to cut!
You lot will need to find the widest role of the well (probable next to the business firm) and it'due south maximum depth (firm to front lip).
Tip: For the depth measurement, make sure to measure out to the inside border of the window well cover to ensure that the vertical runners volition just fit inside of the well.
Now – make sure that yous write down these measurements somewhere condom so that you don't lose them and need to remeasure!
Echo these measurement steps for each window well. Measuring to the nearest one/8 inch is precise enough for this project.
Step 2: Calculate Materials Needed
Once you take all of your measurement, y'all'll demand to practise some quick math to ensure that you purchase enough raw materials i.eastward. woods.
I'll walk through how to make this simple adding with my window well sizes, simply yous'll need to apply the same arroyo to your own since they are likely dissimilar in size!
I used 2×4-inch boards for my vertical runners, and 1×four-inch boards for the horizontal ones, but if you'd adopt to use something stronger like all 2×4'due south then that certainly will work as well.
Each window well cover has ii vertical runners, then y'all'll want to multiply the depth by ii for each window well and add together them up. In my case, I had 3 window wells that were 24 inches deep, and 1 that was 36 inches deep.
Ex. (24 inches * 2 * three) + (36 inches * 2) = 216 full inches
At present that you've got the total amount of forest, you'll want to add ten% for overage, mistakes, etc… to bring the total in my instance to 238 inches. Now split up that total by the length of boards that you lot'll be using.
8-foot lengths (72 inches) are the nigh common, only just double check hither.
Ex. 238 / 72 = iii.3
Circular upwardly to the nearest whole board since you typically can't buy partial lengths i.e. 4 in this case. In my setup, this is how many treated 2×4's I and so purchased for the project.
Next up, information technology'south time to effigy out how many i×4'southward that you will need!
For this step, yous can choose to add more or less boards, just for prophylactic, I chose to take a board roughly every 6 inches.
For a 24-inch depth, that meant that 3 of my window wells would take four horizontal boards, and I used 5 on my larger (36-inch well).
To calculate the linear feet needed for each window well:
- Add 4 inches to the width measurement for each well (to permit for overhang)
- Multiply by the number of boards on that well
- Repeat steps 1-2 for each well and add together to go a total linear feet
- Divide the total linear anxiety by the board length (likely 8 feet again)
- Round up to the nearest whole board
Take a deep sigh of relief now that the math is complete!
With the math out of the fashion, caput to your local hardware or lumber supply shop to buy the necessary number of 1×4's and 2×iv'southward. Make certain to use force per unit area treated lumber every bit information technology will be exposed to the wind, rain, snowfall, etc…
Tip: If you're worried about messing upwards the math, go ahead and buy a couple extra of each as you can always return them subsequently!
Step three: Cut Your Boards
Using your previous measurements, go ahead and cutting downwardly all of the one×four'south and 2×4's down to their respective measurements.
The cuts for the 1×4's don't demand to exist perfect, just reasonably close in length equally you will be trimming many of them subsequently on.
You will want to try and get the 2×4's very close to their measurements as yous desire them to accept a snug fit in the window well. Because of the bend in the window well, I'd recommend cutting the ii×iv's about 2 inches shorter than your actual measured width to ensure that they're able to slide downwards within the well.
A circular or tabular array saw volition make this much easier, merely you can always complete this step with a hand saw if needed as well.
Step 3: Gather The Window Well Frame
Lay two 2×4's on the footing parallel to each other that are spaced out by one-half the width of the window well. Lay ane 1×iv across one end, and a 2d i×4 across the other finish.
Allow each i×4 to hang 1 inch off the end of the ii×4 then that it can act as a catch.
Use a single spiral to attach the 1×4 and 2×4 at each spot where they cross (four total).
Accept the frame to the well and do a quick exam fit to ensure that information technology's able to fit downwards in the well. If the 2×iv's are too long to permit the frame to sit down inside, then they are likewise long and will need to be trimmed shorter.
This is also a good take a chance to ensure that the ends of the 1×four's go by the edge of the window well and leave an overhang. Too much overhang is ok as these ends can be trimmed downwards afterwards.
However, non fully going past the window well edge is bad because it won't be strong.
If need exist, unscrew and re-screw the boards to brand everything line upward correctly and but movement on once it all lines up!
Step 4: Add The Remaining Boards
In one case you've confirmed that the window well embrace properly fits, add remaining screws to the existing end boards to lock them into place. I used 4 screws on each board for extra security.
Subsequently securing the terminate boards, add the middle boards and secure them in place with several (iii-iv) screws at each crossing point.
The middle boards should be evenly spaced out to prevent there from being any overly big gaps in the cover.
Step five: Trim The Lath Ends (optional)
At this signal, you should take a fully functional window well encompass that'south ready to serve its purpose!
However, if you want to tidy things up a little by trimming the excess edges off that will make them await a picayune nicer.
I used a straight edge to mark a line in pencil that left at least a i inch overhang past the well edge, and then used my saw to trim it off.
Repeat this process for any remaining window well covers and you can call this project done!
Conclusion on DIY Window Well Covers
It's worth pointing out that these window well covers are meant to prevent deadly accidents, non be used for common activity. Children, pets, and adults should avoid playing on or around them.
Because these window well covers are made from wood, you'll besides detect that they will need to be replaced over time. While treated wood slows the rotting process, eventually the sun and moisture will weaken the forest to the point that it's no longer prophylactic and volition need to be replaced.
These window well covers cost around $25 each to make and ii hours of time. Which felt like a steal compared to the overpriced flimsy plastic ones found in near hardware stores!
Related Manufactures
If you plant this article helpful, then make sure to also have a look at some of these related posts before you go!
- How To Reupholster Bar Stool Seats
- Ways To Upgrade Your Kitchen Cabinets (Without Painting Them)
- Will Home Depot Cutting Wood For You?
Source: https://projectperfecthome.com/diy-window-well-covers/
0 Response to "How To Attach Window Well Covers"
Post a Comment