How To Fix A Rotted Window Sill
Hither in the scenic Northeast, nosotros are commonly blessed with an abundant supply of precipitation. Sometimes, it's even a tad Likewise arable, resulting in overflowing gutters. We'll show you how to remedy that unhappy situation, by adding a downspout, in an upcoming mail. Meanwhile, we'll show you how to fix 1 of the consequences of those overflowing gutters, every bit nosotros particular how to fix a rotted windowsill.
The sill nosotros're using equally our exam subject has been the victim of several years of water cascading down on it from a gutter above information technology. While I'g thrilled we live in an area where water is plentiful, that water can cause an astonishing corporeality of damage when information technology finds its way into your house. And information technology's VERY good at finding its way in. Looking at our sill, there was apparently only a small rotted area.
When I started pulling things apart, I constitute extensive damage to the sill. The siding behind it was also wet and rotted, besides as the apron trim nether the sill. There was besides a modest expanse of rot at the bottom of the side casing. Unpleasant surprises are the norm when yous decide to ready a rotted windowsill. Don't let information technology intimidate you, though; it's not all that hard to deal with. Grab your tools, and let'southward go it washed, before it rains once more!
Tools You Need To Fix A Rotted Windowsill
Fortunately, the tools and techniques needed to prepare a rotted windowsill are pretty fundamental. Yous'll demand a pry bar, a claw hammer, a utility knife, a tape measure out, a circular saw, and either a sharp chisel or an oscillating multitool to cutting out the rotted stuff you're sure to detect behind the trim. If you have access to a table saw, it will make it much easier to cut the angle on the new sill. If not, it can be done with a circular saw and a steady hand. You'll also demand some sandpaper, primer and a paint brush.
I Don't Mean To Pry…
Before you become shopping for materials to fix a rotted windowsill, y'all need to know how all-encompassing the damage is. Note: Before you start your demo, brand a note of how long your sill and frock are, likewise as whatever other rotted trim you'll be pulling off. Now let'due south become cranking!
Start at the bottom, with the apron trim, and piece of work your way up. To avoid peeling paint off of siding and trim that will be staying, use a utility pocketknife to score the paint and caulk where they encounter.
Get your pry bar behind the frock by gently tapping information technology with your hammer, and slowly work your way from one end to the other, prying slowly and being careful not to scuff or dent your siding.
Once the apron is off, repeat the process with the sill. Again, make sure you lot score any areas where it contacts trim that won't be removed. If there are nails left behind when the trim is off, make sure y'all pull them out. Make sure you save a piece of the sill, and so you tin can use information technology to lucifer the angle when it's time to cut the new sill.
If the rot extends vary far into your vertical trim, you may have to pull it off and replace it also. If it's not extensive, at that place'due south another option: cutting out the rotted area, and use epoxy wood filler to fill in the gap. It's not also expensive, and when mixed and installed properly, it's really stronger than wood, and information technology can exist shaped, sanded, nailed, screwed and painted. That's what I use to fix small areas of rot on any trim when I prepare a rotted windowsill.
In one case the damaged stuff is off, take a adept look at what was behind it. If the sill was pretty rotted, there's a good chance that water worked its way in backside information technology, and rotted siding, and possibly even framing members. Utilize your chisel or multitool, and get rid of any woods that's rotted, crumbling or punky.
I had to cutting out a piece of the siding that had been backside the frock, and some of the capsule behind it was damp but non rotted. If you have whatever wood that'due south solid just damp, brand certain you permit it dry out completely before you put everything back together. I left information technology open for a couple of days of sunny conditions, and finished the water adjournment by using a heat gun for a couple of hours. If you go that route, don't go on the gun close to the wood for long; some heat guns get hot enough to start a burn. I had mine a couple of feet abroad, propped up and aimed at the damp surface area.
Getting The Materials You Demand To Fix A Rotted Windowsill
Information technology's piece of cake to figure out what you demand to ready a rotted windowsill once the bad parts are out. In that location are many sizes and styles of windows, of course, and you want to lucifer what was at that place as closely equally possible. Many window sills, including ours, are 1-1/2" thick. This makes replacement unproblematic, as the new sill can exist cut from a standard two×four or 2×6. Mensurate the thickness and length of your sill, and add it to your list.
If you had damaged siding backside the apron or sill, you demand to replace that too. If it volition be completely covered when you lot install the new apron, you're in luck – you tin can use whatever material that's the same thickness as the old siding. If part of it will show, take a slice of the material you cut out to your domicile center or lumberyard, and get the closest match you can.
For the apron trim, and the side casing if needed, measure the width, length and thickness of the quondam slice. If y'all're lucky (over again!), it may be a standard dimensional piece, like a 1×4 (actually 3-1/2" wide) or a 1×6 (five-1/ii" broad). If it'southward an oddball size – ours was four-one/ii" – get the adjacent size upwardly, and rip it to the width you need with a table saw or circular saw.
Something you may desire to consider when you're shopping for replacement parts to prepare a rotted windowsill: Many trim parts made of PVC are bachelor. They can be cut and nailed but like woods trim, and they DON'T ROT! They are a off-white flake more expensive; the 1x6x8' piece of PVC trim I bought was $20, articulate pine would accept been effectually $eight. If you're planning on staying put awhile, I think it'southward money well spent. At to the lowest degree next time you have to supervene upon a rotted windowsill, information technology shouldn't be that one.
While you're shopping, grab a tube of expert paintable acrylic caulk, and some galvanized nails. You lot'll want some 8-penny finish nails for the apron, and 16-penny sinkers for the sill. Don't skimp and apply regular "bright" nails; they'll rust and eventually disintegrate if they get at all damp.
Fix A Rotted Windowsill – And Assistance Forbid A Relapse
One time you've retrieved all your parts, it's time to start putting everything back together. First, cut the angle on your sill. Near sills are designed with a few degrees of downwardly slope, to help them shed water. Some water, anyway. If you have a table saw, set the angle on the blade to match the angle on that scrap slice of sill yous saved. So set the cutting width to match the width of the sill, and just run it through.
If you're using a circular saw, set the angle of the blade to lucifer the old sill, and marking a cut line on top of the piece of work slice. Make your angled cut in the centre of the piece. Keep the saw equally steady and direct as you can; use a guide if one is bachelor.
One time your angle is cutting, the hardest part is washed. Now cut your piece to length, and give the edges, and any surfaces that volition be exposed, a practiced sanding. This will assistance them take pigment ameliorate, and they'll expect much amend when you're finished. Paint ALL surfaces – even the areas that will exist hidden – with a coat of expert primer. Do the same with your frock trim, and any other trim pieces or siding you lot're replacing. This will also help delay the next occasion you'll have to fix a rotted windowsill.
Work your manner from the within out. Make sure everything is completely dry out within, and supercede any sheathing and siding, attaching everything with galvanized nails. Caulk whatever seams. Next goes the sill. Usually the sill extends a short distance across the side casing trim on each side; make sure the sill is centered, with an equal overhang on each side.
Push the sill upward snug to the bottom of any vertical trim, and nail it in identify using your 16D galvanized nails, making certain the nails are positioned to get into the framing members (studs or window framing). At present adhere the apron. Normally the apron is shorter than the sill, and sized to line up with the exterior edges of your side casing. Push the apron upward snug against the sill, and nail information technology with 8D galvanized finish nails, once again trying to hit framing members whenever possible. Caulk any seams.
If you have vertical trim to supercede, cutting it to fit, keeping in listen that the surface that rests on the sill should have a slight angle cut, to friction match the slope of the sill. Make sure to friction match any reveal on other areas of the window, and to line up the outer edge with the edge of the apron trim. Caulk any seams.
If you had a pocket-sized expanse to patch, like I did, now's the time. Unless the space you're filling is very small, it's a good thought to add together a fiddling "rebar" to give the filler something extra to grab onto. I used a couple of structure-grade screws, screwed into the siding and studs, and ready about 1/iv" below where the finished surface will exist.
Mix up your epoxy wood filler following the directions on the container, and make full in the gaps. Use a putty knife to get the surface as polish and close to the existing trim as possible. Let information technology set upward according to the directions, then sand information technology to alloy in with the residue of the trim, caulk it, and prime information technology.
Once everything is in place, the final step to fix a rotted windowsill is to put a coat or two of good-quality exterior paint on all your repairs. This, of course, volition look all spiffy and new, whereas the residue of the trim may non have seen a paintbrush for a while. Try cleaning the remaining trim, and hopefully it will be shut plenty that it won't carp yous. If yous just can't stand it, repaint the rest of the trim on the window.
And that's it – now you know how to fix a rotted windowsill! Hopefully that was the only one; if not, rinse and repeat. And if the effect was due to an overflowing gutter, check back soon, and nosotros'll show you how to add a downspout, and then you can brand the water go where You want it to get.
Source: https://homefixated.com/how-to-fix-a-rotted-windowsill/
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