A window in an apartment, whether plastic or wooden, without such an element as a window sill, looks unattractive and bad. Therefore, in each house, this element is provided by architects. When replacing a window, there is always a replacement of the board under it.
As a rule, the installation of the windowsill is carried out by specialists, but the work can be done by yourself. The main thing is to do everything according to the rules. Before installing a plastic window sill, you should familiarize yourself with 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;
- Hammer with a set of drills and chisels;
- Foam mounting.
In addition, wooden bars or special PVC linings, as well as a gun for polyurethane foam, can come in handy. Based on the state of the window opening, these elements may not be enough. In this case, perforated plates for fastening the window sill should be stored.
Fit to Size
When all the tools and materials are prepared, you can proceed to the next stage of work. It consists in carrying out a measurement with the transfer of marking on a PVC board. To do this, add 10 cm to the length of the opening. This measure is needed to create an attractive appearance for the entire window opening.
As soon as the marking is completed, you need to cut the PVC window sill. This process is easily performed by a jigsaw, but in its absence you can use a conventional hacksaw. But the slopes require a lot of effort. Where the installation of the plastic window sill will be made, it is necessary to make the strobes. Their depth should be 5 mm greater than the length of the installed part..
The grooves in the slopes are best done with a chisel, which we install in a perforator. They should have a uniform shape that will not impede the entry of window sills. After chiselling, the opening must be cleaned of debris. And then proceed to the next step.
Setting the window sill level
The base and slopes are prepared, so you can go to the fitting. This will require a building level. Before installing the plastic window sill correctly, put linings on the base. On small windows, two props will be sufficient, and at least three should be used for balcony. This operation is easy to perform on your own.
The linings should lie strictly at the window level, which will allow you to qualitatively expose the window sill from plastic 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 slots of the slopes. Next, we move it all the way. This process should not interfere.
Next, the installation of the window sill continues to set the optimal slope. This is necessary to remove condensate naturally. It should not accumulate at the base of plastic windows. To do this, lower the edge of the plate, looking inside the room, a couple of degrees. The construction level will show how much the slope has changed. To keep the opening level, check the position at the edges and middle.
Level adjustment is made by linings. Without them, installing a new windowsill 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 a chisel.
It is necessary to install a plastic windowsill 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 by chips placed under the product. It is recommended to fix the edges of the panel when the position matches the desired. Each change must be checked with a building level so that the PVC window sill does not change its position.
Fixing the structure in place
After trying on, when the correct position is reached, proceed to the fastening step. This action is performed with a mounting foam that uniformly fills the space. But before installing the window sill, the cylinder needs to be heated a little. Temperature can increase the effectiveness of the foam, which better fills the empty seats.
The best way to heat a cylinder is to place it in warm water. But you can use the heating system if the installation of a plastic window sill takes place from autumn to spring. The heated cylinder is shaken well, mixing its contents. Next begins the filling of the space under the stove. Void should not remain.
The work does not end there. The fact is that polyurethane foam has a huge expansion. This fact has a negative effect on the position of the board between the slopes. In order not to spoil the work, it is necessary to strengthen the element. Many for this purpose use ordinary bricks, which are installed on the surface of the slab.
Do not worry about the product, as there are stiffening ribs inside the product. They withstand a large load, allowing an adult to stand freely on a window opening.
Window sill installation on the balcony
Modern loggias and balconies today are actively glazed. This is not surprising, because the additional usable area will not be superfluous to anyone. And how much is such a pleasure, everyone knows firsthand. Therefore, the windowsill on the balcony is no longer a wonder.
Basically, the installation of a plastic window sill on the balcony is carried out at the time of glazing. But if this was not done, then it is worth installing this element of the interior yourself.
Before replacing the windowsill, prepare the metal brackets. This is necessary provided that it is not possible to bring it under existing windows. In most cases, metal elements are required, which greatly simplifies the process. Brackets are attached to the parapet using anchors. They also allow you to strengthen the windowsill, which contributes to an increase in the payload on it..
The fixed brackets should stand at a distance of no more than 1 meter. The building level checks the horizontal slope. Before attaching the holders, tension the thread. This will allow you to achieve evenness on the horizon and simplify the work.
When the brackets are fully secured, do-it-yourself PVC window sill installation begins. It is fixed with self-tapping screws, which are twisted at the bottom of the element. This operation is best done with a screwdriver, because it significantly speeds up the process.
After installation, the window sill on the balcony must be treated with sealant. This measure is needed to get rid of a possible gap, which is formed due to irregularities in the edges. Unlike installation in a window opening, the balcony window sill does not need to be reinforced with polyurethane foam. All plastic elements quickly take their places where they sit firmly, performing assigned tasks.
Window sill replacement in a wooden house
The installation diagram of a plastic window sill in a wooden house is very similar to the process performed in the apartment. First, the old wooden window sill is dismantled, the foundation is being prepared. The side slopes must be put in order so that the plastic part freely takes its place.
In order not to cut and freely fix the plastic window sill, it is better to cut the sidewalls from wood. For this work you will need a chisel, a hammer. So grooves where fastening will be made turn out. It happens that they can already be ready and they had a wooden window sill.
As soon as the grooves are ready, pads are placed on the base of the opening. Do-it-yourself installation of a plastic windowsill in the doorway 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. After it is fixed and the voids under it are filled with mounting foam. Many people ask how to put the windowsill in another way. But foam is the best and most effective option.