Decks, Patios, Porches and Docks - Pouring concrete patio against basement windows

Hello,

We've been debating between a deck and a patio forever it seems. Last week we had a stamped concrete guy come out and give us an estimate. My major concern with a patio has always been our basement windows. The bottom of the windows are just barely above grade, and I know this is not an ideal situation but there's really nothing I can do about it.

In order for the patio to be ground level where it ends 20' out from the house and figuring in proper slope, it would have to be poured so that it was 4-5" higher than the bottom of the basement windows at the foundation wall. Has anyone ever heard of pouring a patio like this? I'm a little uneasy about doing this. I'm just thinking about water puddling up against the window.

Anyone have any ideas of what I could do? Or any photos of what you did in a similar situation? I live in Buffalo if that matters. Thanks.

Mark

Can you just block up the window opening and then pour the patio?

If you do not, you will have windows that are virtually useless and a pit that will collect water and dirt. Even with a slope on the pation, wind can push the water into the window well/pit.

We only have 3 basement windows and the patio will go in front of 2 of them, so I'd like to keep as much light as possible coming into the basement. Plus the foundation is a poured wall, so I'm not sure how good the patch job would look if we closed them in.

The concrete guy suggested changing the windows from the tilt in style to glass block, so I have a glass block guy coming tonight. Would this be helpful to have them replaced with glass blocks?

I've had 2 glass block companies out to quote replacing our current vinyl basement windows with glass block. Neither of them recommend having the concrete patio poured higher than the bottom of the windows. So I'm not sure where that leaves me now. Anyone have anymore ideas?

Does anyone have any pictures of a concrete patio poured around a window well? I'm wondering how that looks.

If you do decide to install window wells, make sure you put in positive drains in each one to keep water from collecting, and make sure your well is deeper than the bottom of your window by a few inches.

I think someone wanted me to post some photos of my basement windows in relation to the ground, which I've got some now but how do I post them? The FAQ says to look for the [Manage Attachments] button at the bottom of the post composition page but I don't see it anywhere.