Successful installation of windows means not only the successful installation of the window frame, but also the correct installation of the window sill.
Only in this case it is possible to give the external attractiveness of the entire structure, to ensure maximum comfort in room. You will have a convenient area for placing small interior items, the issue of heat transfer regulation will be resolved.
From this article you can learn how to organize a technologically correct installation of wooden window sills.
Functional features of wooden window sills
The window sill is not just decorative element that complements the window system. This is one of the most important building blocks that performs many utilitarian functions: If the technical norms and rules for the installation of wooden window sills are observed, they guarantee the thermal protection of the room, eliminating the risk of drafts.
- Used as a convenient and compact shelf where you can place flower pots, children's toys, stationery.
- On the wide window sill you can leave a book, use it as a comfortable seat to enjoy the view from the window.
- A wide window sill will allow you to place a computer monitor, a table lamp on it and use it as a desk.
- Creating a miniature on the balcony winter garden by placing flower vases at different levels.
A properly selected and installed window sill will complete the entire home interior, provide you with an additional workplace or a comfortable seating area.
Varieties of window sills and their specifics
The existing variety of window sill shapes and material allows you to choose best option solutions for any design idea. Based on the approach to installation, there are designs:
- Wide type with a size of 40 cm or more, which allows you to successfully produce a decorated cover for heating systems, and also saves space in the room. This option can be used in the presence of wide supporting walls.
- Narrow type (width up to 10 cm) - used for window systems installed on balconies.
- Sloping, when the window sill is replaced by part of the window slope.
- With a launch on the wall, when part of the slab deepens into the concrete structure by 17-20 cm.
Along with a straight window sill that can fit into any type of interior, there are also more original arched options. They give a designer freshness to the arrangement of residential premises.
The use of wood in production is a universal and quite popular solution. However, such material is susceptible to moisture and drops. temperature regime, and therefore often deformed and cracked.
To eliminate these problems, glued or milled wood is used, the moisture content of which does not exceed 10%. In this regard, pine, beech or oak wood is taken, followed by treatment with special protective compounds.
To reduce the cost of construction, you can use chipboard. This material has an external appeal and is strong enough, however, with prolonged exposure to moisture, it will collapse. Finishing with lamination will partially solve this problem, but the possibility of moisture penetration from the ends will remain.
What you need to know when installing a wooden window sill
A significant part of the overall success of the installation depends on the correct measurements. The penetration of the front part and sides into the wall is at least 40 mm, and in addition, it is also necessary to provide for an exit on one side of more than 60 mm beyond the concrete.
If you calculated everything correctly, then you need to process the structure. To do this, use a variety of moisture-protective compounds and solutions. Thanks to them, the material will not deteriorate, and the service life will be significantly extended.
It is necessary to process not only the upper and lower surfaces of the plate, but also the end parts, especially at the point of contact with the wall.
The installation site must be free of dust and dirt. It is also necessary to remove some of the loose concrete. The surface on the wall should be additionally primed. In addition, the base on which the structure will be installed must be leveled. Installation is carried out in accordance with the level indications.
To successfully complete the task, you need to follow these tips:
- in a panel or brick house two-level fixation is required. First, fix it with mounting foam, and then use self-tapping screws to make a through fixation with the window frame from the outside.
- For wide window sills, additional support in the form of metal corners or wooden bars that are attached to the surface of the wall. The fixing of the structure on the basis is carried out with the help of foam.
- In wooden houses, it is desirable to take into account the design features when planning the opening. Fastening is done with carpentry glue or self-tapping screws.
Production of window sills from wood
When choosing a material for a structure, it is necessary to focus on the following requirements:
- high degree of wood drying;
- increased rock strength;
- homogeneity of the material without knots or darkening.
The presence of resin in the pine material makes such structures more durable, additionally endowing them with healing properties.
Oak wood is characterized by high impact resistance and protection against mechanical damage. At the same time, experts recommend using glued laminated timber, and not solid wood.
The prepared material must be carefully processed. The ends must be sanded and polished. From below it is required to provide grooves for fastening. The window sill is treated with varnish or paint, and the lower part must be treated with antifungal compounds.
For insulation, the bottom of the window sill can be covered with felt, which is fixed with nails. During installation, it is advisable to prepare the surface of the wall in advance by treating it with lime and gypsum. The boards will be installed from above, taking into account the entry into the corresponding recesses in the walls.
When installing under a beam, it is necessary at the initial stage to fix the plate with nails without caps. It is necessary to fix the nails at the bottom of the beam, and then put the structure itself on them.
During installation, it is important to ensure that there is no tilt. And after fixing, it is necessary to remove the excess solution and foam the voids that have arisen.
Window sill installation
The size and shape of the structure slab are determined individually. The width can vary from 30 cm to 50 cm, but it is important to remember that two-thirds of the window sill must be attached to a solid wall surface or special fasteners. Also, you should not indent more than 7 cm behind the wall, since heat transfer performance can be degraded.
Mounting technology:
- When preparing the base, the lower surface of the opening is leveled, and the side walls are knocked out a few centimeters along the height of the window sill plate for its subsequent insertion into the depths.
- Installing wedges will help level the surface of the structure horizontally in level.
- When installing the sill plate, the wedges are adjusted to ensure accurate horizontal guidance.
- In the place where the slab is deepened into the slopes, foaming is performed, followed by processing of the board from its lower side.
- Providing a flat surface for installing a window sill is possible either by preliminary concreting according to the level, or by using foam.
This material will not only additionally insulate the installation site, but also prevent possible shrinkage, provide insulation and contribute to thermal control.
A properly installed window sill will provide not only an attractive interior in the room, equip the room with an additional workplace, but also solve problems with thermal control.
Photo ideas for installing a wooden window sill
Installing a wooden window sill with your own hands will not take much time even for a beginner, if you have at hand detailed instructions. It is for this purpose that this article was written, let's proceed to the study.
Obviously, installing a window sill in wooden house will be produced using high-quality natural boards, but what makes you use this product in the "stone jungle", where synthetic materials play a leading role in interior decoration? Indeed, today plastic has practically replaced everything natural from our apartments, because it is easy to maintain, significantly cheaper and quite durable. A modern man there is no time to think about a healthy atmosphere in the house and constantly take care of the safety of natural elements of decoration.
But, time began to turn back, synthetic chemistry is less and less satisfying to the consumer, and wood is the most accessible from natural materials for window sill decoration. Of course there are fans natural stone for example, but still price category such a product is closer to "gold". Besides modern options window sills made of wood are not as clumsy as in the USSR, they already have their own style, quite elegant and restrained, which allows them to organically fit into both a modest interior and a very sophisticated one.
Installing a wooden window sill will give you many advantages, even if your windows are made of PVC profile. natural material will definitely get rid of the external "coldness" of plastic, even such a small detail will bring a good share of comfort to the room. In addition, the tree has long been known for its "smart" mechanism for regulating heat and moisture in the room, it is not for nothing that even entire houses have long been built from this material. Therefore, such a window sill is not afraid of severe cold and wet autumn, it always remains relatively warm, and the radiator located under the window will not cause the release of toxins that the plastic fellow “sinned”, according to some scientists.
Many will object that natural material capricious in operation, you can’t pour anything on it or put it hot. These are relics of the past modern technologies allow you to process the tree in such a way that it is not afraid of such accidents, however, if you are not going to deliberately check this daily. Well, we have already mentioned a word about the aesthetic side, there are many styles of such window sills. You can traditionally make this device correct form and polished to a shine, and lovers interesting designs suitable option for rough wood.
If you do not want to buy a finished product, you can make it yourself. You will need a well-dried, carefully planed board without knots and chips. Choose which side will be outside and which will lie on the wall. Here on the inner surface you will need to make a drip to remove moisture from the wall. This is a regular groove 5 mm deep and about 8 mm wide, which is made about 2-3 cm from the front edge of the board. It remains to cut the board to the length you need (this parameter should be 15 cm larger than the window opening).
But you choose the width yourself, the option is considered optimal when the protrusion into the room is about 7 cm. The tree is also treated with compounds against the harmful effects of dampness and open fire. Choice finished product should be carried out in the same way, focusing on the geometric data of the window frame and opening. It remains to find out how to put a wooden window sill, we will talk about this later.
How to install a wooden window sill quickly and reliably?
Now let's proceed directly to the installation, the natural material is complicated in that it is very sensitive to errors in this process, so we will be more careful than ever.
How to put a wooden window sill - step by step diagram
Step 1: Preparing the Walls
To figure out how to install a wooden window sill, you need to start not at all from the board itself, but from the place where we place it. The base on which the object of our attention will be located is thoroughly cleaned of dust and debris, because this was preceded by the installation of a window profile. Next, you should carefully moisten it with water, because in most cases it is used to fix the window sill. cement mortar. If the base is not solid, that is, there is a recess with heating communications under the window, then you will need to put wooden or metal horizontal supports on top of this niche so that the window sill does not hang in the air. And for reliability, the board itself can be "dressed" around the perimeter in a metal profile.
Step 2: Leveling the window sill
With rare exceptions, the walls that serve as the base are located on the same level, so you will need to first set the window sill evenly with wedges. In addition, you need to set the plane of the board so that it falls slightly towards the room. It will help to determine these small degrees. Once you have obtained the desired slope in all directions, fix the wedges with several portions of mortar so that this position will not change again by any chance, and remove the board from the seat.
Replacing old windows with plastic structures involves the installation of an obligatory element - a window sill, which is a rectangular or figured board and can be made of different material A: PVC, natural stone, marble, wood, etc. Sometimes it is necessary to change only this part without affecting the window structure, and as an option, it can be wooden window sills for plastic windows. Do it yourself this type of work requires certain knowledge on how to properly install the window sill on plastic windows. This will help to avoid serious installation errors, which will be followed by a violation of aesthetic indicators and a decrease in the service life of the window sill.
The preparatory stage and features of the choice of material
On the preparatory stage measurements are made of the site on which the window sill will be mounted on a plastic window, docking with the stand profile. The workpiece is cut in accordance with the obtained dimensions:
- The length is measured by the width of the window opening - this is the distance between opposite slopes. To the obtained dimensions, 7-9 cm are added for an allowance, of which 5-7 cm are allocated to the extreme ledge, and 2 cm to the groove under the window structure.
- The panel width is measured from the profile to the outer corner of the slope. These dimensions depend on the thickness of the wall and vary from 20 to 50 cm, only 5 cm is added to the ledge on both sides.
Advice! It is unreasonable to increase the width of the board, as it will block the heating radiator, which can lead to a violation of the circulating air flow and lead to freezing of the glass and the formation of unwanted condensate.
The blank is cut according to the obtained dimensions. Models of window sills on a plastic window made of PVC panels, due to their availability, aesthetics and ease of installation, occupy a leading position and are popular with consumers. Specifications plastic panels in comparison with other analogues have a number of undeniable advantages: products are presented in a wide variety of shades. Details from PVC panels are cut by a grinder, as a result of which the edges are smooth, not requiring additional processing.
PVC panels are most often used for the manufacture of window sills. Remember! Using a jigsaw or conventional hand saw, be especially careful during work, otherwise the edge will turn out with torn notches and chips, which will be difficult to block with plastic end caps.
The wooden window sill differs from analogs from PVC in the increased durability and durability. There are different types of material on the market, which enables consumers to make right choice in accordance with the requirements for such products:
- Inexpensive wood - larch, chestnut, pine. Such parts belong to the budget option, so they are mainly installed in country houses and at cottages.
- Noble breeds of wood - an oak and a beech are suitable for any window designs. High-quality wooden window sills for plastic windows look harmoniously with a white profile or are matched to other colors of the window frame. Noble wood has an amazing texture, high strength and long service life. The main disadvantage of oak and beech elements is the high price, which is more than offset by quality and durability.
The use of expensive wood species allows the production of very durable window sill panels. After the choice of material is finally made, it remains to find out about all the features of the implementation installation work: how to replace an old window sill with a new one, is it possible to install it on a balcony (loggia).
Installation steps
Regardless of the material from which the window sill is installed to the plastic window, the installation process is carried out using an identical technology. The main feature of this method is simplicity and lack of special skills. How to install a plastic window sill or how to install a wooden one? The choice of material is directly influenced by the strength indicator, since this indicator is different for PVC and wood products. It is possible to achieve high strength and reliability of a wooden and plastic window sill during the installation process. Correct and competent installation of the window sill with your own hands will exclude its subsequent deflection and deformation.
The structure of the plastic window structure Installation of different types of window sills on plastic windows
You should understand in more detail how to install window sills on plastic windows, and a step-by-step description of the work will help in this:
- The first and mandatory action is a thorough cleaning of the working surface on which the workpiece will be attached from construction debris and dust.
The surface on which the window sill will be installed must be free of debris. - To perform further steps, you will need a building level to help determine how even the surface is. If there are irregularities, the workpiece is set using wedges and beacons. In order to install a wooden or plastic window sill, a special glue or mortar is used, which immediately after preparation is laid out on the work surface. The board is installed on a fresh solution and strongly pressed down. In order to fix the window sill of a large width, mechanical supports are used - brackets screwed on with screws. The number of elements that fasten the board depends on its length and the strength of the material.
- In order for the workpiece to be installed correctly, recesses (strobes) are made in the lower part of the slopes on both sides for the entire length of the panel thickness. Marks are made on the slopes, and rectangles are cut out on the workpiece on the left and right sides. Work on the creation of strobes is carried out using a perforator, grinder and chisel. The depth of the recesses depends on the material from which the slopes are finished - it can be a layer of plaster, putty or drywall. Advice! Slots and holes after installation are carefully sealed with the appropriate composition, which allows achieving solidity between the surface of the window sill and the slope finish.
- free space under plastic panel blown with mounting foam. The foaming mixture increases in volume and can move the workpiece put into place, so a load is placed on its surface. It can be bottles filled with water, bricks, blocks, even books. The frozen excess foam is carefully cut off with a sharp construction knife.
- At the final stage, the ends of the plastic window sill are closed with plugs that give completeness and aesthetics. The protective film is removed from the surface of the panel.
Important! Window sills on a plastic window must be fixed horizontally, it is better to take measurements with a building level or square.
The principle of insulation of the window sill of a plastic window
If you decide to change the window sill, then you should immediately start warming it. This will help to avoid serious consequences: the appearance of defects, cracks, leading to the formation of drafts and heat leakage. Before insulating the window sill plastic window, it is necessary to make the right choice of heat-insulating material. Provides effective insulation polyurethane foam, which does not take much time to apply. Also, a special silicone-based sealant can be used to finish small cracks and cracks in the window sill on a plastic window.
Features of installation on the balcony
Replacing the plastic window sill on the loggia and balcony depends on whether the room is heated or not. In the absence of heating, it is preferable to give the choice to plastic counterparts, as well as teak or larch blanks. But even for warm room installed wooden blanks require careful treatment with moisture-resistant impregnating compounds.
The wooden window sill panel must be treated with a moisture-resistant composition You can get a perfectly even window sill if its fastening is carried out simultaneously with the insulation of the fence (parapet). Thermal insulation boards are inserted between interior decoration and be sure to leave an air gap, thereby preventing rapid heat leakage.
You also need to know how to put a window sill on the balcony for a plastic window. For fastening elements, a base is needed, to which bars will be mounted along the entire length of the window sill in increments of 50-60 cm. How many there will be depends on the parameters of the parapet. To make the finish look neat, the bars should not extend beyond the base. To fix them, cement mortar is required.
Advice! Be sure to attach the workpiece at an angle of 3 ° towards the room, this will allow condensation to not accumulate on the surface of the window sill. It is possible to make such a slope with planed wooden wedges.
If a wide and heavy board was installed, then you should know how to make sure that it is securely fixed. Installation should be carried out using brackets for self-tapping screws with a press washer. Long fasteners will not work - the best option is 4.2x16. The step between the brackets is 20-30 cm, but it can be more, as it depends on the weight of the installation panel.
A waterproofing tape is attached to the brackets along the entire length, due to which moisture from the street will not penetrate into the room. After that, the window sill is inserted between the window frame and the profile and pressed against the stop. The connection of the loose edge of the board with the brackets is also carried out using self-tapping screws.
Considering that the installation of window sills on the loggia and balcony is carried out by the most different ways, preference should be given to the optimal and desired option. Knowing how to replace the window sill, you can do the work yourself without the help of a specialist.
