DIY installation of a plastic window sill. How to properly fix the window sill yourself and what should be done for this. Replacing a window sill yourself How to replace a plastic window sill with a new one

As a rule, the installation of a window sill is carried out by specialists, but you can do the work yourself. The main thing is to do everything according to the rules. Before installing a plastic window sill, you should read the instructions for the entire process.

Preparatory work

First you need to prepare the tool and material. Here's what you need to have:

• Hacksaw or electric jigsaw;
• Building level;
• Tape measure and pencil;
• Perforator with a set of drills and chisels;
• Polyurethane foam.

Linings ensure a snug fit of the window sill to the frame

In addition, wooden blocks or special PVC linings, as well as a spray foam gun, may be useful. Based on the condition of the window opening, these elements may not be enough. In this case, you should provide perforated plates for fastening the window sill.

Fit to size

When all the tools and materials have been prepared, you can proceed to the next stage of work. It consists of taking measurements and transferring the markings onto a PVC board. To do this, you need to add 10 cm to the length of the opening. This measure is needed to create an attractive appearance for the entire window opening.

At the first stage, measurements of the window sill are taken

Once the markings are completed, you need to cut out the PVC window sill. This process is easily performed with a jigsaw, but if you don’t have one, you can use a regular hacksaw. But slopes require a lot of effort. Where the plastic window sill will be installed, it is necessary to make grooves. Their depth should be 5 mm greater than the length of the part being installed.

To insert window sill boards, grooves are made in the slopes

It is best to make grooves in the slopes with a chisel, which we install in a hammer drill. They should have an even shape that will not interfere with the entry of the window sills. After chiselling, the opening must be cleared of debris. And after that, proceed to the next stage.

Installing window sill boards level

The base and slopes are prepared, which means you can proceed to fitting. To do this you will need a building level. Before correctly installing a plastic window sill, pads should be placed on the base. For small windows, two supports will be enough, but for a balcony, at least three should be used. This operation is easy to perform yourself.

The plastic panel is installed on pads

The pads should lie strictly at the level of the window, which will allow you to properly align the plastic window sill before changing it. When everything is ready, you should try on the part in a new place. To do this, we insert a plastic board into the grooves of the slopes. Next, move it all the way. Nothing should interfere with this process.

Next, the installation of the window sill continues to set the optimal slope. This is necessary to remove condensation naturally. It should not accumulate at the base of plastic windows. To do this, you need to lower the edge of the slab, looking inside the room, a couple of degrees. The building level will show how much the slope has changed. To ensure that the opening remains level, you need to check the position at the edges and in the middle.

The slope of the front edge of the window sill is 2-3 mm

The level is adjusted using pads. Without them, installing a new window sill will be very problematic. It is recommended to purchase special plastic elements, but they can be replaced with wooden linings. For work you should use an ax or chisel.

You need to install a plastic window sill with your own hands so that there is no gap between it and the window frame. This is a very important point that should be given close attention. The gap is eliminated with wood chips placed under the product. It is recommended to fix the edges of the panel when the position corresponds to the desired one. Each change must be checked at the building level so that the PVC window sill does not change its position.

Fastening the structure in place

After fitting, when the correct position is achieved, proceed to the fastening stage. This action is carried out by polyurethane foam, which evenly fills the space. But before installing the window sill, the cylinder needs to be heated a little. Temperature allows the foam to become more effective, which better fills empty spaces.

The best way to heat the balloon is to place it in warm water. But you can also use the heating system if the installation of a plastic window sill takes place from autumn to spring. The heated container is shaken well, mixing its contents. Next, the space under the slab begins to be filled. There should be no voids left.

The space under the window sill is carefully filled with foam

The work doesn't end there. The fact is that polyurethane foam has enormous expansion. This circumstance has a negative impact on the position of the board between the slopes. In order not to spoil the work, it is necessary to strengthen the element. Many people use ordinary bricks for this purpose, which are installed on the surface of the slab.

There is no need to worry about the product, since there are stiffening ribs inside the product. They can withstand heavy loads, allowing an adult man to stand freely on the window opening.

Installation of a window sill on a balcony

Modern loggias and balconies are now being actively glazed. This is not surprising, because the additional usable space will not be unnecessary for anyone. And everyone knows firsthand how much such pleasure costs. Therefore, a window sill on a balcony is no longer a curiosity.

Basically, the installation of a plastic window sill on a balcony is carried out at the time of glazing. But if this has not been done, then you should install this interior element yourself.

Before replacing the window sill, you should prepare the metal brackets. This is necessary if it is not possible to install it under existing windows. In most cases, metal elements are required, which greatly simplifies the process. The brackets are attached to the parapet using anchors. They also allow you to strengthen the window sill, which helps to increase the payload on it.

Fixed brackets should be no more than 1 meter apart from each other. The horizontal slope is checked using the building level. Before attaching the holders, you should tighten the thread. This will allow you to achieve levelness along the horizon and simplify the work.

When the brackets are fully secured, do-it-yourself installation of the PVC window sill begins. It is secured using self-tapping screws, which are screwed into the bottom of the element. It is better to perform this operation with a screwdriver, because it significantly speeds up the process.

Fix the window sill using self-tapping screws

After installation, the window sill on the balcony must be treated with sealant. This measure is needed to get rid of a possible gap that is formed due to uneven edges. Unlike installation in a window opening, a balcony window sill does not need to be reinforced with polyurethane foam. All plastic elements quickly take their places, where they sit firmly, performing their assigned tasks.

Replacing a window sill in a wooden house

The installation scheme for a plastic window sill in a wooden house is very similar to the process performed in an apartment. First, the old wooden window sill is dismantled and the base is prepared. The side slopes must be put in order so that the plastic part can freely take its place.

In order not to cut and freely attach the plastic window sill, it is better to cut the sides from wood. For this work you will need a chisel and a hammer. This creates grooves where the fastening will be made. It happens that they may already be ready and have a wooden window sill in them.

The window sill panel is installed in the grooves

Once the grooves are ready, pads are placed on the base of the opening. Do-it-yourself installation of a plastic window sill into the opening is done only on them. The position of the stands can be fixed so that they do not move under the mounted element. Before fixing the product, you need to check the position of the plate. Afterwards it is fixed and the voids under it are filled with polyurethane foam. Many people ask the question of how to install a window sill in a different way. But foam is the best and most effective option.

The popularity of plastic windows has led to the fact that they began to appear in high-rise buildings immediately at the construction stage. The products are of very high quality and durable, but with all this magnificence they are not insured against accidental damage.

The plastic window sill may also be damaged, forcing residents to take repair measures. You can correct the damage in different ways - by sticking a protective film, updating the plastic covering, or changing the plane under the window to a new one. The last method is the most difficult, but even an inexperienced user can replace the window sill of a plastic window if you follow the instructions below.

Dismantling the old product

If there is a need to change the window sill, first remove the old covering. They do this in two ways:

1. They file down the polyurethane foam under the window sill, disconnect the slopes and pull the plastic plate towards you.
2. First, remove the slopes, then knock off a little plaster under the window, cut off the foam, and then pull out the board with a sharp jerk.

The first method is more humane, since the integrity of the wall covering is not compromised. If you remove the window sill using the second method, the user will save time, but will seriously deform the walls adjacent to the window sill. Whatever dismantling method the residents choose, after the repair they will have to eliminate all the consequences of the work and restore order inside the premises.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9QsBuS77VQ Video can"t be loaded: dismantling a plastic window sill (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9QsBuS77VQ)

Instructions for replacing the window sill

Before starting work, you should make sure that the length of the new board exceeds the width of the window opening by 15-20 cm. This is due to the fact that the edges of the slab must be recessed deep into the wall. The covering protrudes forward (inside the room) at least 5 cm.

Installing the slabs takes just a few minutes. The new PVC product is fixed using mounting adhesive, foam or cement mortar, and its inclination towards the room should be 2-3 mm. This is done so that the condensation that forms on the window does not stagnate on top of the window sill and flows down. On the sides, where the product rests on the wall, you can tighten a couple of screws to increase the stability of the structure.

The space below the window sill is sealed with polyurethane foam. The final stage of work includes:

• removing unnecessary parts of the polyurethane foam with a stationery knife after it has completely hardened;
• fixing plugs at the ends of the slab;
• finishing of slopes and walls when the latter are deformed during the dismantling stage.

Don’t worry if a snow-white product suddenly cracks, becomes hopelessly dirty, or no longer fits into the updated interior. Knowing how to change a window sill on a plastic window, the user will not consider these defects as serious problems.

If the window in the room still meets the requirements for interior appearance and reliably protects the home from the cold and dampness of the street, but the window sill has already become unusable, then you can change it without calling a specialist and without additional costs. Today we will tell you how to change a window sill with your own hands, and we will break down all the work technology point by point for you to do it yourself.

What to buy and prepare.

Before you start dismantling the old window sill, you need to buy:

1. Plastic profile,
2. Polyurethane foam,
3. New blade for a hacksaw or jigsaw.

In addition, we prepare:

1. Linear level up to 1.2 meters long,
2. Wooden bars,
3. Chisel, hammer and nail puller.

Removing the old window sill.

Window sill installation.

Now you need to cut out the required profile size with a jigsaw or hacksaw, while m, it is necessary to take into account that the window sill must “deepen” into the slopes by 4-7 cm for operational rigidity. As a rule, the workpiece is cut so that the part recessed under the frame is shorter in length, since the window opening tapers towards the window.

Next, a chisel is used to knock out grooves in the wall of the slopes (if the old ones are of insufficient size) and the prepared profile is inserted into a niche so that it “sits” loosely and can be adjusted using a level and wooden wedges. It is important that the profile is inserted into the prepared niche tightly to the window frame. Now you need to adjust the installation accuracy in length and width. In most cases, a slight slope is made towards the room (about 5 degrees), it is visually invisible, so it will not create inconvenience.

After the final check of the installation accuracy, the void around the window sill is filled with polyurethane foam, the excess of which, after it has completely dried, is cut off with a painting knife or spatula.

Dmitry Shekhovtsev

During the operation of any home, from time to time there will certainly be a need to carry out routine repairs of individual interior elements. Less often, but still, replacement of window sills is also required, which is not difficult to do with your own hands if you have some skills and clear instructions for the sequence of actions. You can find out all the details on how to do this from this article.

When to replace the window sill?

Reinstallation of this part of the window structure may be required in several cases:

1. The formation of damage that reduces aesthetic appeal - small cracks, scratches, chips, as well as deformation if wood products are used.
2. The occurrence of integrity violations that can provoke complete destruction of the window sill - deep cracks, chips.
3. Destruction, crumbling of the window sill itself or the wall adjacent to it, which not only leads to the risk of this window element falling at the most inopportune moment, but also significantly worsens the quality of sealing of the room, opening free access for cold air and moisture to penetrate inside.
4. Reorganization of space and change in the style direction of interior design, for which the existing structure will become unsuitable.

What material should I choose for a new window sill?

Modern models are presented on the market in several versions, so you can choose a design that is ideal for your purpose, both in terms of price, color, configuration, and permissible load on the walls. The most popular solutions are:

1. Plastic. Such products are in great demand due to their affordable cost, wide variety of configurations and colors, as well as long service life and high environmental friendliness, despite their synthetic origin. In addition, the replacement of plastic window sills is carried out according to a simplified scheme and is quite possible to do independently.
2. Tree. Natural wood remains relevant forever. This material brings a special feeling of comfort and warmth to the home, and also has a natural, beautiful pattern and pleasant texture. Connoisseurs of everything natural and environmentally friendly should definitely give their preference to this option, especially since modern technologies for pre-processing raw materials allow you not to worry about possible rotting, deformation or other negative manifestations during operation. The price of the issue is a personal matter for everyone; there are also low-budget models, for example, from chipboard and MDF, and very expensive ones made from solid wood for true connoisseurs of high-class species.
3. Natural and artificial stone. This material also does not lose its popularity, but it is not suitable for every interior. Window sills made of marble and granite bring solidity and at the same time sophistication to the entire decorative design of the room, but at the same time they are not always safe, as they can be radioactive and at the same time they are heavy.

   Important! Another nuance of choosing a suitable design relates directly to its parameters. Choose the width based only on personal preference, and the length should be a few centimeters (10-20) greater than the width of the window.

Replacing a window sill with your own hands - technology

To reinstall this part of the window structure, you will need a step-by-step approach, which consists of:

• preparation of instruments;
• dismantling the old window sill;
• installing a new one.
  

  Important! The easiest way is to replace the window sills of plastic windows, but if you have structures made of other materials installed, then you will only need even greater care, and the sequence of the process will remain unchanged.

Tools

To avoid delays during the work, prepare the following set of equipment in advance:

• chisel;
• roulette;
• hammer drill or drill;
• level;
• jigsaw;
• polyurethane foam;
• hammer;
• silicone sealant;
• mounting knife;
• sandpaper;
• paint for slopes;
• small section boards.

Removing the window sill

The dismantling procedure is actually not as labor-intensive as you might initially think.

To do this work quickly and efficiently, follow these recommendations:

1. At the ends of the window sill, knock out niches to a depth of 10 cm or along the entire length of the slope, using a hammer drill.
2. Lift the slab with a sharp movement or knock it with a hammer several times.
3. Carefully remove the window sill from the niche.
4. Remove all debris, including solution residue and dust, from the resulting empty space.
   

   Important! If you don’t have a hammer drill or the skills to work with it, you can, of course, knock out the window sill using a chisel, but then be patient, since this work will really take a lot of effort and time from you. Watch the video, which clearly shows how to dismantle the window sill.
   

Installing a new window sill

It is not enough to simply insert a new canvas into an old niche. There are a number of rules for preparing it and the new slab itself, which you must follow when replacing the window sill with your own hands:

1. Cut out excess parts along the ends of the window sill and slopes to ensure the most accurate fit into the window opening.
   

   Important! If the old canvas has been preserved intact, a rational solution would be to use it as a template when forming a new slab.

2. Treat the edges at the ends with an antiseptic solution if you choose products made from lumber or solid wood to reduce moisture permeability.
3. Create a cement screed along the horizontal base of the niche if the height of the new window sill is less than the old one, or deepen the opening if it is not high enough.
4. Seal all gaps and cracks in the walls adjacent to the installation site, if any, using cement mortar or putty.
5. Apply silicone sealant along the width of the window opening, at the future junction of the window sill to the frame, to prevent the formation of voids through which cold will penetrate into the room.
6. Install prepared boards into the opening, which will become a support for the window sill.
7. Check the horizontal evenness with a level.
8. Lay the window sill slab on top of the bars.
9. Mark its position by level.
10. Place a weight on the slab.
11. Fill all gaps with foam.
    

    Important! For plastic structures, modern manufacturers offer special profiles in the kit, which further facilitate the process of installing a new slab. Watch the proposed video on replacing a window sill with your own hands made of plastic with profiles.
    

12. Seal the protruding edge under the window sill with cement mortar or foam.
13. Make a technical break of 24 hours until the solution completely hardens.
14. Remove excess with a mounting knife if you used foam.
15. Sand the surface with a float or fine-grained sandpaper if you treated the gaps with cement mortar.
16. Remove the protective coating from the surface of the window sill.
17. Paint or plaster the slopes to give the window an aesthetically pleasing appearance.

Conclusion

As you have seen, replacing a window sill with your own hands is a simple procedure that can be completed within 1-2 days. The main conditions for long-term operation of a new slab:

• competent choice of design and material from which it is made;
• compliance with installation rules;
• use of high-quality consumables;
• accuracy when performing work;
• proper regular surface care.

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Window sills perform not only aesthetic, but also protective functions. They are installed during the installation of windows. In this case, both windows and window sills are carefully sealed. But sometimes, due to deformation of this window element, damage or redevelopment of the room, it needs to be replaced. This article will discuss how to replace a window sill.

Various materials are used to make window sills, including PVC, marble, artificial stone, wood and others. To some extent, the nuances of installing a window sill will depend on the material from which it is made, but there are still general recommendations for performing this work.

• The canvas is fixed at the bottom of the opening indoors.
• At a distance of 60 mm from the edge of the window sill, in its lower part there should be a so-called teardrop or gutter, which serves to drain water/condensate. Its depth can be up to 20 mm.
• The lower part of the window opening should be cleared of mortar up to the wall, and then cleaned of dirt, dust and other debris.

If the installation of the window sill was carried out correctly, it will not sag or break. To achieve rigidity during installation, you should take into account the characteristics of the material from which the window sill is made.

Installing a plastic window sill is not difficult. The only thing is that when sawing PVC you should be extremely careful so as not to scratch the material, and even worse, not to break it. Avoid pressing hard on PVC.

In this case, the old window sill should be dismantled. To do this, use a hammer drill, chisel or scraper to remove the cement mortar. Then the unusable fabric needs to be tamped down and pulled out.

Now you can try on the new window sill and, if necessary, level it. The ends of the window sill should be trimmed to ensure an accurate fit of the canvas to the opening. There should be no gaps between the wall and the window sill. You can even cut out a new canvas based on the old window sill.

Using the building level, place the beacons. It is important that the window sill slopes away from the window by about 5 mm. This action will help avoid the accumulation of condensation on the canvas.

The free space should be filled with foam. You can cut off the excess later. To prevent the foam from lifting the window sill, you can put a bag of plaster, cement or other mixture on top. Then the ends of the window sill should be protected with plugs, and the canvas should be cleaned of the protective film.

The foam should begin to be applied in longitudinal stripes, starting from the window. This layer will serve as additional protection from the cold.

In order for the air heated by the radiator to rise freely, thus drying the slopes and double-glazed windows, the protrusion of the PVC window sill should be no more than 60 mm. The window sill of a plastic window should not exceed the width of the opening by 15–20 cm.

Installing a wooden window sill is more difficult than its plastic counterpart. First of all, pay attention to the source material. The board under the window sill should not have flaws in the form of defects and knots. It must be well dried.

So, to replace the window sill on a wooden window you will need:

• Chisel/hammer.
• Polyurethane foam.
• Roulette.
• Fine-tooth hacksaw/jigsaw.
• Construction dry cement-containing mixture.
• Sandpaper for sanding.

To dismantle the window sill, use a hammer and chisel. Then carefully beat the canvas around the perimeter of its attachment to the window opening and frame. In the process of lightly tapping the canvas, it can be dismantled from the installation site. Then the dismantling site should be cleared of construction debris.

The horizontal surfaces of the subframe space and the window opening should be leveled with mortar. After the construction mixture has dried, you need to apply a continuous layer of polyurethane foam to the surface, on which you should then install a pre-sized window sill. In order for the structure to be fixed more firmly, the new canvas must be secured with two self-tapping screws through the interframe space to the window frame.

If there is not enough height from the surface of the opening to the plane of the new window sill, then several wooden pads should be installed under the new canvas. They are fixed using polyurethane foam.

To fix the horizontal line on the canvas, you should install weights of several kilograms for 4–5 hours. Then seal the joint under the window sill with acrylic sealant. The space under the window sill should be evenly foamed to cover a third of the window sill. When the foam has hardened, the remaining cavity must be filled with a solution prepared from a building mixture, leveling it with the wall.

At the end, the slopes should be secured and the joints should be treated with acrylic sealant. Perhaps after installing a wooden window sill, you will have to putty, sand and treat it with paints and varnishes.

The good appearance of the window sill is the choice of material and the quality of installation of this element. If you have questions on the topic, then ask them to our specialist by writing a comment on the article.

Video

This video clearly shows how to install a window sill yourself: