Window Well Installation in Richmond Hill, ON | OCM Excavation

OCM Excavation installs and replaces window wells across Richmond Hill, with most of our work concentrated in the post-war Bayview, Crosby, North Richvale, and Mill Pond neighbourhoods where original galvanized wells from the 1950s through 1970s are now failing in sequence. A window well is a curved steel or composite barrier that holds back soil from a basement window so the window can sit below grade without dirt or water against the frame. Single-well jobs in Richmond Hill run 1 to 3 days. Call 416-317-3090 for a free site quote.

Why Richmond Hill homes are due for replacement

The post-war housing stock in Richmond Hill all came with the same builder-grade galvanized window wells. They had a roughly 40 to 50 year service life. We are now well past that mark on Bayview-area bungalows, which is why we are seeing full-perimeter Richmond Hill replacements (4, 5, even 6 wells at once) instead of one-off swaps. When the well rusts through at the base, water and soil push against the window frame and the parging line, and a wet basement follows.

A new window well installation in Richmond Hill solves three problems:

Egress code compliance for any basement bedroom (OBC 9.7.1.3 — minimum 36 by 24 inch clear floor area).
Foundation waterproofing — stops water sitting against the window frame and the parging line.
Pest entry — a new steel or composite well with a polycarbonate cover closes the route raccoons and mice use to chew into rotted wood frames.

Materials we install in Richmond Hill

Galvanized steel in 16 to 22 gauge is the most common like-for-like swap. Aluminized steel costs more but holds up longer against winter road salt. Composite PVC and HDPE wells carry a 50-plus year service life and are our top pick for full-perimeter Richmond Hill projects where you want one-and-done. Poured concrete wells are the right call when the window has been enlarged for egress and standard well dimensions do not fit. We size and quote each material option during the site visit.

Our installation process

We excavate around the window 24 to 36 inches deep and roughly 12 inches past the perimeter of the new well. On tight Richmond Hill backyards with mature trees, we hand-dig. On accessible lots we run a Yanmar SV40 mini-excavator with a thumb attachment. Where Enbridge gas or Bell lines sit close to the foundation, we switch to vacuum excavation.

Next, we place 6 to 12 inches of clear drainage stone at the base of the well, bolt or concrete the new well body to the foundation wall, tie the well drain into a working weeping tile where one exists, and backfill with stone up to the finish grade. We finish grade the surrounding soil to slope away from the house and offer a polycarbonate cover.

Typical project size and timeline

Budget $1,500 to $4,500 per window for Richmond Hill window well installation. A like-for-like galvanized swap sits low. A composite egress well with a new drainage tie-in sits high. A single well is 1 to 2 days. A 4 to 6 well full perimeter (very common in Bayview and Crosby) is a 4 to 7 day project. We frequently combine window well work with foundation waterproofing in Richmond Hill, basement underpinning, or a walk-up basement conversion on the same mobilization.

Why Richmond Hill homeowners choose OCM

We are local, fully insured, and we own our excavation equipment. That means we quote, dig, install, and finish grade with the same crew — no third-party sub showing up two weeks later to backfill. We work across every GTA city, including Vaughan and Markham. Call 416-317-3090.

Frequently asked questions

How much does window well installation cost in Richmond Hill?

Most Richmond Hill window well jobs land between $1,500 and $4,500 per window. Galvanized like-for-like swaps sit at the lower end. Composite egress wells with new drainage tie-in sit at the upper end. Full-perimeter packages of 4 to 6 wells usually carry a per-window discount, which we work out during the on-site quote.

Should I replace all my wells at once?

If your wells are the same age and same gauge — typical of post-war Bayview and Crosby builds — replacing all of them at once is the right call. The mobilization, equipment, and grading time are shared across the wells, which lowers the per-window cost compared with calling us back for each one separately.

Do I need a permit in Richmond Hill?

A like-for-like window well replacement generally does not require a building permit. Cutting a new opening in the foundation or enlarging the window for egress does require a permit and a structural engineer review. We will tell you which category your project falls in during the quote.

What size window well do I need for an egress bedroom?

OBC 9.7.1.3 requires a minimum 36 by 24 inch clear floor area for an egress window well, with the well projecting far enough from the wall to let the sash swing fully open. For most Richmond Hill basement bedroom conversions we install wells in the 48 by 30 to 60 by 36 inch range.

What materials hold up best in Richmond Hill winters?

Composite PVC and HDPE wells handle freeze-thaw and road salt best, with service lives generally rated at 50-plus years. Aluminized steel is a strong middle option. Standard galvanized steel is the most affordable but has the shortest service life — expect 30 to 40 years if water is draining properly.

Get a free quote

Call OCM Excavation at 416-317-3090 or request a free Richmond Hill window well quote through our contact page. Same-day response during the build season.

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