How To Replace An Interior Window Sill

How to Replace an Interior Window Sill and Trim

A damaged window sill is a common trouble in both old and new homes. Water leaks, condensation, and UV rays can take a toll on your window sills, causing them to rot, warp, or fissure. The cruddy habiliment and tear surfaces caused by regular utilise and farthermost weather are some of the major reasons why nearly homeowners consider replacing their window sills. This article discusses the steps you need to follow on how to replace an interior window sill and trim without messing up your window frames.

Things You Will Need

If you lot will be replacing the interior window sill by yourself, yous need to know which tools you will apply to go the task done. Chances are that you accept most of them already only a rule of thumb is to equip yourself beforehand so that you are not stuck in the process.

Plastic window sill on a balcony glazed with plastic windows

Brand sure yous have: a putty knife, a utility knife, pry bar, chisel, a claw hammer or a mallet, a reciprocating saw, a multi-tool, a pencil or crayon, measuring record, and a stiff adhesive. You tin can cutting the new sill with a tabular array saw or have it done at your closest warehouse.

Step 1: Remove the Old Window Sill

Insert Utility Knife between Sill and Trim

Offset, you need to open your window so that it can requite you plenty room to remove the old window sill. Insert the tip of your utility knife vertically between the sill and the trim. There will be a profiled wooden trim of a quarter by a half-inch around the perimeter of your window sill depending on how it was installed. With the help of a utility knife, cut any glue, paint, or caulk that could exist holding the trim to the sill.

Pry the Trim Away From the Sill

Accept a putty pocketknife and insert information technology behind the trim underneath, at the back, in front, or wherever the trim is installed. Gently pry the old trim away from the sill in pieces. Try using a chisel if the trim is a bit stubborn and will not come up off right away. Use diagonal pliers to pull the nails out of the trim and arrange them to make information technology easier when putting them back.

Loosen the Sill As Much As Possible

To loosen the sill well plenty, insert a apartment pry bar underneath the sill and pry upward. You can also place its tip backside the sill on top while prying it towards your body. Try using a screwdriver if the pry bar does not fit. Continue loosening the sill by prying from both sides until the nails start to pull free.

Employ a Safety Mallet

With the help of a safety mallet, pound the sill from all directions to loosen the nails. Rock the sill upward and downwards with your fingers to pull it out of the window sash and framing. Scrape whatever debris, old glue, or caulk from framing where the sill was removed. Use diagonal pliers to extract any nails that could take remained.

Step 2: Install the New Sill

Go the Right Size

It is of import to become the correct measurements for your new window sill then that it doesn't await out of place. 1 of the ways to do this is by using the sill you just extracted from the window as a template. This allows you to verify whether the thickness of the new sill volition be accurate or proportionate to the old one. Use a table saw to cut the new sill to the right measurement but do non cutting out whatever notching yet.

Tap it Into Place

Place the newly cutting sill on the sash where you removed the quondam i. Use a rubber mallet to tap it back to the furthest bespeak it can go. Utilise a tape measure and a pencil to trace or describe any notching you lot need and cut them with a jigsaw. Put the sill back in identify and trim the notches until it fits tightly on the sash or framing.

Finishing Touches

Use 100-grit sandpaper and a paw cake to smooth the sill and effectually the corners. You can choose to either pigment the sill or end information technology to lucifer the existing woodwork. Drill holes through the sill and drive 2-inch nails into the holes using a hammer. Use 1-inch terminate nails to nail the trim pieces in the social club they came off. Use a colour-matched putty crayon to putty all the holes.

Information technology is important to exist very conscientious when prying on a sill then that you lot do not break anything that may be in the mode. Brand certain to remove every slice carefully that is in the way of the sill and the trim and always accept your safety glasses on when working with wood. To exist on the prophylactic side, you can e'er seek help from a professional when replacing an interior window sill.

Source: https://www.a1everlast.com/interior-window-sill-and-trim-replacement/

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