Frost reaches 2.1 m in Thunder Bay, which is deeper than most of the country and deep enough that it governs the whole installation. A well that stops short of the frost line will be lifted by the ground underneath it sooner or later.
What shapes a window well in Thunder Bay is deep frost and heavy snow, with a housing stock mostly predating 1980. It is roughly 2,560 km by road from our plant to Thunder Bay, which is why freight runs $324.00 CAD and transit 2 to 15 business days.
The steel arrives at our Calgary shop as flat coil and leaves as a finished well. That is why Thunder Bay orders skip the distributor markup, and why an odd size is a quote rather than a refusal.
Getting one to Thunder Bay
A Thunder Bay order ships for $324.00 CAD regardless of how many wells are on it, arriving in 2 to 15 business days. Stock galvanized sizes go out within one to two business days. Powder coated wells are finished to order, which adds one to two weeks before dispatch.
Working with a 2.1 m frost line
The practical consequence is depth. Excavations here go deep, which usually means a taller well than the same window would take further south, and often two wells stacked where the drop exceeds the tallest single height we roll.
Stacking for depth
Where the drop is deeper than 42 inches, two wells of matching width and projection fasten together. Order both and say so in the order notes so we can match the flanges.
Measuring before you order
Three numbers, in this order. Width runs along the foundation wall and should clear the window opening on both sides. Projection is how far the well stands out from the wall. Height is from finished grade down to where the base will sit. If the hole is already dug, measure the hole rather than the window.
If you are replacing rather than installing new, measure the window and the excavation, not the existing steel. Decades in the ground change a well's dimensions.
Common questions from Thunder Bay
Can I get a size that is not listed?
Yes. We manufacture in our own shop, so any width, projection or height is possible. Send the three measurements and we will quote it for delivery to Thunder Bay.
How deep should a window well be in Thunder Bay?
Deep enough that the base sits below the level the excavation reaches, with the lip finishing at grade. At around 2.1 m, frost design depth here is well above the national norm, so excavations tend to be deeper and the well taller than the same window would need further south. Measure from finished grade down to where the base will actually sit, not from the window.
How much does shipping a window well to Thunder Bay cost?
Freight to Ontario is $324.00 CAD per order, not per item, and transit runs 2 to 15 business days on top of the build time. Because it is charged per order, several wells ship for the same price as one.
What does Thunder Bay require for a basement bedroom window?
The governing document is the Ontario Building Code, administered locally through your municipal building department. A 30 inch projection gives 762 mm of clearance in front of the window. The window itself has its own opening requirement, so confirm both before you order.
Figures quoted here follow NBC 9.9.10.1 and local design practice and are general guidance, not a code ruling for your property. Confirm requirements with Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing or your municipal building department in Thunder Bay.