Best Window Sill Repair & Replacement Solutions
If your house is like most others, it may have one or more rotted window sill areas or sills that are damaged in some other way. A window sill may be a seemingly minor area of the home to concern yourself with, but these damaged areas nonetheless can be an eyesore that impacts the aesthetic appeal of the home.
If you are wondering how to repair a rotted window sill, you may also be wondering if this is the type of project you can tackle on your own as a do-it-yourself home repair. Before you decide whether to call a contractor for rotten window sill repair work or not, read on. These important factors will help you to make a better decision about how to proceed.
The Location of the Damage
As a first step, you should inspect the location of the affected area. A home can have window sills on the interior and the exterior of the home. The materials used as well as the repair processes for interior window sill repair versus exterior window sill repair are quite different.
In addition, with a repair project outside the home, it can be challenging to access the area that requires your attention. For example, repairing window sills and frames on second story windows may be challenging to do from the top of a ladder. You may attempt to complete the work from the inside of the window leaning outward, but this can be difficult and even dangerous to do. This may be a repair project that is best left to the professionals.
The Type of Damage
Many homeowners want learn more about what it takes to repair a rotted window sill, and this is because this is the most common type of damage to a wooden window sill. For example, it is common for windows to leak and to allow moisture inside the home. In some cases, the window may have been left open, and rainwater may have fallen inside.
In addition to water damaged window sills, your sills may have other types of damage. For example, you may have a dog chewed sill, a cracked window sill or some other type of damage. When it comes to the exterior, concrete window sill repair may be needed to replace missing or cracked concrete.
The Types of Materials Used
While the type of damage and location of the affected window sills are both important considerations that will affect the cost of the repair/replacement as well as the skills and time required to get the job done, the types of materials used are also important. For example, it is common for wood to be used on the interior sill of a window, but stone and concrete window sills are common on the outside of the home. Both masonry and stone window sills require masonry skills/tools while wood rot or other types of damage inside the home may require professional woodworking services.
A Sill Repair or a Full Replacement
A final point to consider when you want to know how to repair the damage and what the cost will be is if you need a sill repair or a full replacement. For example, if you have a small area that the dog has chewed up, you may be able to simply putty and paint the area to eliminate signs of damage. However, a cracked sill with damage right through the middle of it may need to be fully replaced. This may require you to remove the entire sill and to replace it with one that has been cut precisely to shape. It will then need to be installed and painted.
While damage to this area of the home is very common, you do not want to leave the window sill or the frame as-is. You need to either replace or repair your window sill promptly. This type of damage can negatively impact the look of your home as well as its value, and can deteriorate over time. If you are looking for a contractor to help with the repair or replacement, HammerWiz can help. Contact us today for a free estimate.
