Repair work of a capital and cosmetic nature involves the refinement of window openings. Replacing plastic window sills is one of the repairs. It is possible to carry out dismantling and installation on their own without the involvement of specialists. It is quite simple if you are guided by recommendations and the sequence of stages of work.
Plastic windows, like PVC window sills, are an excellent solution for maintaining heat in an apartment or house. They do not require painting or additional care. Replacing plastic window sills is usually required during repairs. Despite the fact that plastic is a durable material, it can still deteriorate, change color or crack due to mechanical stress.
Pros of Plastic Window Sills
The most popular materials for window sills are plastic, stone and wood, each of which has a number of pluses and minuses. So, window sills made of wood are short-lived and require constant maintenance of their aesthetic appearance. Stone window sills are expensive, require special installation and are suitable only for a certain interior. Plastic is a universal material. The color scheme of PVC coating is very diverse, it is lightweight, durable, easy to install and does not require special care.
When installing a plastic window and window sill, during the repair, both elements are replaced, since their service life is the same. Another plus is that PVC is not susceptible to decay or mold, therefore, even if condensation appears on the windows, this does not affect the state of the window sill. The presence of chambers inside the window sill makes it easy, and thus maintains a large thermal insulation. Installation is simple. PVC is very easy to cut and does not require special materials for installation, in some cases mounting foam is sufficient. PVC does not lend itself to chemical attack, so you can use any aggressive means to care for the windowsill or when cleaning. In addition to the qualitative characteristics, it should be noted a wide selection of colors and the possibility of selecting a wide variety of styles: the film can be in the form of stone or wood, plain or in the color of the countertop.
disadvantages
Among the number of advantages of plastic window sills, there is one drawback - the fragility of the product. On the windowsills, you can put flower pots or other objects, but you must follow certain rules in the operation of the PVC product. Otherwise, replacement of plastic window sills will be required.
Choosing a plastic window sill
Professionals recommend choosing window sills that have passed quality control and have a certain certificate. This guarantees the reliability and safety of materials. Store managers must describe the material in detail and provide relevant documents, especially for colored products, UV resistance is important, otherwise the color will quickly burn out. Strength and resistance to mechanical influences - only high-quality thick plastic products possess this characteristic.
Having decided on the manufacturer of the design, you can proceed to the choice of design.
Recommendations of specialists
- It is better to choose the white color of the window sill, this is a guarantee that it will not change color and small damage on it, such as scratches, will not be too noticeable. The main criterion for the right choice of a white window sill is its average price. Cheap plastic will turn yellow in a few years.
- The number of stiffeners is an indicator of the stability and strength of the product. The more of them, and the stronger the wall (up to 3 mm), the more durable and stronger the product.
- The dimensions of the plastic window sills are 600 mm in the standard, they can be cut independently or order the desired size. Correctly indicate the size of the product can only be measured, for this purpose you can call a representative of the company or store, make measurements.
- Panels with a width of 10 to 20 cm. The depth of the window opening and plus 5 cm to this value is the desired size. For installation, it is necessary to add another 10 cm, because the window sill comes under the window frame.
Let us further consider how to replace the windowsill with your own hands.
Dismantling
The first stage of the work is the dismantling of the plastic window sill installed earlier or the removal of the old wooden window sill. For this you will need: a hammer drill, a chisel and a hammer. Depending on how carefully the dismantling of the old window sill will be made, subsequent work on the upgrading of the slopes depends.
To remove the old window sill, you need to remove the cement mortar, which is located at the end, using a hammer or chisel. After hammering from below, the old structure is removed. Cleaning from debris and smoothing the surface on which the new window sill will be installed is necessary, otherwise irregularities in the profile distortion are possible.
Installation
The window sill of the plastic window is replaced in an airtight opening. You need to install only the windowsill, correctly sized. This ensures maximum protection against cold air entering the room from the street. The dimensions of the plastic window sills must exactly match the distance between the slopes and have a certain clearance. Experts advise not to forget that the window sill should not cover the battery, otherwise this will lead to disruption of air circulation.
The choice of how to fix the plastic window sill is wide enough. You can install it on a solution or on a mounting foam using sealant. The second option is simpler and faster in case of replacing the window sill of a plastic window with your own hands. Polyurethane foam has a number of properties, such as quick hardening and tightness. It provides maximum protection against possible flaws in the installation and is guaranteed to provide protection against the penetration of cold and damp.
Installation steps
So, the installation of the PVC window sill is as follows:
- Using a grinder, adjust the desired size, taking into account the lateral clearances.
- If the installation of the PVC window sill is carried out in the old house, and the opening is located lower than the groove under the frame, then wooden bars are laid under it and fix them.
- The window sill is inserted into the groove to a depth of 2 cm, it is located between the profile and the foam.
- Using a level, determine the position of the profile and adjust it using wooden wedges. Experts recommend installing window sills with a slight slope, about 5 mm in the direction of the room so that condensation does not accumulate.
- Using a two-component foam that does not expand, fill the space of the opening between the window sill and the wall.
- If installation is made on ordinary foam, then it is necessary to put the load on the mounted window sill.
- After 24 hours, the cargo can be removed, and the remaining foam cut off with an office knife.
- The final point is the installation of decorative caps.
Professional Tips
If replacing a window sill of a plastic window is carried out independently, without the involvement of experienced specialists, then it will not be superfluous to use the advice of specialists.
First of all, you need to remember that in a humid environment, mounting foam freezes much faster. To do this, moisten the opening with water from a spray bottle. Foam tends to expand, therefore, between the strips of foam, you must always leave gaps, so it will fill the free space, and the window sill will remain in place. If this is not done, then the foam will simply push the profile to the top, even despite the load. There are openings in which it is impossible to enter a profile, in this case the window sill is placed exactly in the size of the window, and the joints with slopes are carefully filled with hermetic means.
If you familiarize yourself with the recommendations of specialists, then replacing the plastic window sills will prove to be a feasible task even for a person who does not have skills in construction.