Window Sills

Many older windows have rotting sills that look terrible and make the windows unsafe. But, it’s really not necessary to pay a professional to repair or replace your windows sills. With the right tools and knowledge, you can do it yourself.

Now, one of the best things you can do to reduce maintenance on your windows is to replace them with vinyl replacement windows. Vinyl replacement windows will increase the energy efficiency of your home significantly, and ensure that you’ll never need to perform maintenance on the windows themselves again. However, you’ll still be left with a wood sill on the bottom of your exterior. When the wood rots, it will need to be replaced. It will also have to be painted from time to time.

One way to make this window sill require far less maintenance is to cover it with a vinyl window sill wrap. Even if the wood has some rot, you can repair it with filler and then cover it with the vinyl cover. First remove any peeling paint. Then cut the sill wrap extrusion with a chopsaw or hacksaw, cutting it 1 1/2" longer than the sill itself. This leaves you room to attach caps on the ends. The sill piece has to be notched to fit around the brick molding on each end. This can be done with a jigsaw or hacksaw.

For attaching the vinyl wrap to the wood sill, you should use an extreme weather adhesive. Be sure that you use one that’s suited for freezing weather or you may find that your vinyl cover comes loose from the wood.

If you decide, instead to repair and repaint your wood sills, this, too can be accomplished as a “do it yourself” project. You’ll simply cut a new sill, using the old one as a template, if it can be removed intact. Be sure to prime and paint it before installation. Painting it once a year can help make the sill last longer.

Older wooden windows do require a fair amount of maintenance over the years. If you choose not to replace your windows with vinyl replacement windows, be certain to keep up on the maintenance from year to year. Regular maintenance, including painting, can keep your windows intact and looking great for many years.