The window sill completes the window structure, but this detail should be considered not only within the window, but also within the entire interior. Good, modern choice rich various materials, ranging from plastic to marble. And wooden window sills are far from the worst choice.
What are such window sills good for: advantages
We strongly associate wood with everything natural, and therefore environmentally friendly. And this is not just a stereotype - wooden crafts Compared to plastic ones, they are really safer for our health. Especially in winter - we often place heating radiators under the windows, and warm air, which comes from them, heats the plastic, provoking the release various substances and carrying them throughout the house along with air currents. For these reasons, wooden window sills are suitable even for plastic windows.
At correct processing wooden products adequately resist moisture and are resistant to fire, while they look much better and look more expensive than PVC window sills. Wood products fit perfectly into almost all interior design styles. Of course, natural wood requires maintenance, but it's worth it. The main problem with wood is deformation due to prolonged contact with moisture. Therefore, when installing windows, it is important to ensure that condensation does not accumulate in puddles on the surface of the window sills, and also to protect the products at the ends. By impregnating the wood with fire retardants, you will protect it from fire.
For the manufacture of window sills, wood is used, very well dried - no more than 10%. Most often these are oak, beech and pine, as well as ash, cherry and hornbeam. The last three types of wood produce elite products that are valued for their texture and color. It is best to make window sills from milled, tongue-and-groove or laminated wood, since products made from one solid piece of wood are more susceptible to deformation in conditions of excessive humidity. If you want to emphasize the beauty of the window sill and highlight its natural texture, use parquet varnishes for coating.
Particularly valuable wood species are sanded and impregnated with special oils that repel moisture well and preserve appearance wood.
Wood products have a number of features that cannot be classified as either obvious advantages or obvious disadvantages. For example, heterogeneity of the material. On the one hand, this ensures the uniqueness of the product - this really won’t happen again, because the wood pattern is unique, just like fingerprints. Beautiful drawing You can preserve it by covering the wood with impregnation or varnish, but if you don’t like it, the wood can be painted, it will still retain its attractiveness.
Variation of shades is another feature of wood. Color depends on the density and resin content of the tree, and even in the tree itself different areas can have different characteristics. Different shades are not considered a defect, although if desired, you can choose approximately the same shades. Structural irregularities are pits and grooves that repeat the pattern of wood fibers. For some types of wood, such as pine, structural irregularities can be pronounced, even if sanded. And here hard rocks wood can be sanded to an almost perfectly smooth structure.
How to replace wood - builders' tricks!
The manufacture and installation of wooden window sills are quite expensive, especially if we're talking about about elite varieties. What to do if you really want to admire wood patterns? The construction market offers several options to resolve the situation. One of the most affordable ones is window sills made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), laminated to look like wood or more expensive, but also more reliable.
Externally high quality plastic window sills, decorated like wood, are almost impossible to distinguish from natural wood, at the same time, they will have many advantages: long service life, strength, lack of fear of moisture, the ability to quickly and easy repair. Modern paints are resistant to fading and chemicals, so they will last a very long time.
Inexpensive and beautiful window sills made of chipboard. Plates made of pressed chips, bonded with resins and other binders, are strong enough to withstand any household loads. The same laminated film with different patterns gives it a beautiful appearance. However, this option has many disadvantages. For example, exposure to moisture long time will be disastrous for them. If the material is protected from above and below by a laminated film, then from the ends moisture can penetrate inside through the pores and have its effect destructive impact. To reduce risks, after adjusting the window sills to size end cuts protected with special pads.
How to make wooden window sills with your own hands - we make them at home!
Of course, in our time, most building materials and interior elements can be bought, or you can entrust the production of the same wooden window sills to experienced carpenters. However, if you like to craft, then why not make wooden window sills from solid pine or oak with your own hands. First you need to select raw material– a well-dried board without knots or defects. Having carefully planed it from all sides, with the help of calvings - special planes with a blade of the desired shape - we give desired profile window sill corners. At the bottom of the window sill boards at a distance of several centimeters from front side We make grooves up to 8 mm deep and up to 10 mm wide. When the board has acquired the desired shape, it is cut to the desired length.
However, a window sill made of a solid board has a significant drawback - it changes shape very easily. This can be affected by treatment with paints, impregnations or varnishes, and the material can also suffer from mechanical stress. To improve the structure of the wood, window sill boards are often made from individual wooden strips, which are fastened together with dowels, dowels or glue. Composite window sills withstand moisture and other factors much better. For additional protection In addition to a layer of varnish, you can coat the product with transparent.
Special proportions should be maintained in the size of the window sill board. Optimal width should provide a window sill protrusion of 6-8 cm, and the length should be 10-15 cm greater than the width of the opening. Installing a wooden window sill with your own hands is a task that can be completed without the help of a specialist. To begin with, felt treated with an antiseptic is attached to the lower area of the board, which is in contact with the wall. The felt will fill the voids and provide a softer landing for the board. The window sill prepared in this way is placed under a quarter of the bottom bar of the window frame and fastened to the frame with long nails without heads. The nails are driven into the block at one end, and the window sill is placed on the other end.
If you are installing a window sill in a building with stone or brick walls, then you will need a lime-gypsum solution. The solution is applied to the masonry and a board is installed on top of it. In both the first and second cases, it is necessary to make a slight slope into the room - literally 1-2 °. When embedding the ends of the boards into the plaster or concrete base, soak them with an antiseptic solution.
Wooden window sills go well with windows made of laminated timber or laminated profiles, which is why many customers prefer these products. Manufactured according to modern technologies the models differ from the basic analogues that can still be found in old buildings. Today such window sills are manufactured different ways from several types of wood, thanks to which you can choose a decor that goes well not only with the window frame, but also with floor covering and other interior items. At the same time, some buyers who want to install wooden models, is worried that they will not last long enough and various problems will arise during operation. Find out how justified their fears are from this article.
Advantages and disadvantages of wooden window sills
Wooden window sills are not only environmentally friendly, but also warm products. Unlike products made of or concrete, they are guaranteed not to become a cold bridge between the interior and the street. This is a very important quality for window structures. In addition to participating in the creation of a favorable microclimate in interior spaces These products have several other important advantages:- respectable appearance - modern methods processing and finishing allow you to turn ordinary window sills into exclusive elements of window structures that participate in the formation of the interior;
- strength - wood products have high strength bending, due to which they can withstand high external loads;
- maintainability - most minor damage to the surface of the window sill can be eliminated during simple restoration work;
- plasticity - wood can be used to make products of any shape;
- durability – at proper care Window sills will last as long as the windows themselves.
The disadvantages of these products include a tendency to deformation, a low level of fire safety and the likelihood of the development of microorganisms. With the last two problems in Lately successfully fight with the help of effective impregnations that increase the fire resistance class of products and make the wood resistant to the development of fungus and mold.
Today, several technologies have been developed that make it possible to produce window sills that do not deform or crack during operation.
What types of wood are window sills made from?
For the production of wooden window sills, pine, cherry, hornbeam, oak, beech and other species are used. For premium products, red or ebony. In this case, most often the window sills are made from the same species as window sashes. Among the products available price category Window sills made of oak, hornbeam and ash should be highlighted. They are more beautiful and durable than products made from soft pine or larch. Read more about the properties of the most popular ones used for the manufacture of window structures on OknaTrade.
Technologies for manufacturing wooden window sills
Currently, several methods are actively used for the manufacture of these elements of window structures. Both the cost and characteristics of products largely depend on technology. Today, manufacturers offer customers the following types of window sills:
Regardless of the type of window sill, wide products must be cut into. Otherwise, condensation flowing down will accumulate on the windows, which will lead to deformation of the board.Wooden window sills cannot be cleaned with abrasive powders, which will damage not only the paint layer, but also the structure of the wood. It is best to use the same products that are used for furniture to care for these products. Dust from the surface of the window sills can be removed with barely a soft cloth. In this case, it is necessary to ensure that moisture does not accumulate on them. The appearance of abundant condensation flowing down may indicate problems directly with the window design, so we recommend that you read the article that will help you learn how to deal with this phenomenon. If the issue of condensation is not resolved, it will constantly flow onto the windowsill and very quickly ruin it.
The peak of fashion for plastic window sills has quietly passed. Barometer needles called " Fashion trend» moved towards the Natural Wood window sills and froze. It’s a pleasure to install ready-made window sills from the manufacturer: sprinkle with polyurethane foam, lay down the window sill board, and now the installation is almost complete. However, it is necessary to skillfully work with polyurethane foam and install the window sill.
Choosing a wooden window sill
Comfortable and practical wooden window sills give a finished look to the interior of the room and the window. By installing a solid slat wooden window sill, you can create a cozy atmosphere in your bedroom, living room or office.
In addition, skillful installation of a window sill according to all the rules will improve the functionality of the structure when glazing, for example, a loggia.
window sill view
As part of a window block, a window sill board can be:
Wide or narrow
With or without wall launch
Rectangular in shape or have rounded (radius) corners.
But the main selection criterion is still the quality of the wood.
wood
When choosing a wooden window sill, you need to pay attention to the type of wood, correct installation And daily care behind the surface.
The most preferred choice is oak window sills. Pine and beech wood are also suitable for window sill boards. It is preferable to choose glued pine window sills, which are least susceptible to warping due to temperature changes.
dimensions
According to the technology for installing window sills, only 1/3 of the board should protrude beyond the wall. Therefore, the conditionally recommended width can be 20-25 cm. Prohibit installation wide window sill no one can. However, this will require additional strengthening of the structure and, accordingly, fastening. The classic dimensions of a wooden window sill are: length 1.50 m, width 250 mm, thickness 40 mm.
Methods for mounting and installing a wooden window sill
There are several ways to install wooden window sills:
On a cement screed
Using special glue
On two-component polyurethane foam.
The installation technology and installation methods are identical. The difference lies in the use of mounting solution. The choice of installation method depends on the working base of the window and the material of the window.
There is no single standard for the installation of wooden window sills, but the recommended standard 30971-2002 assumes resistance to heat transfer, sound insulation and resistance to deformation of installation and expansion joints relative to the window opening and walls.
Naturally, before starting the installation and installation of the window sill, it will be necessary to carry out a number of preparatory measures.
We carry out step-by-step installation
Step-by-step instructions for installing wooden window sills will consist of the following steps:
Preparing window sill boards for installation
Preparing the installation base
Laying and aligning support strips
Marking the board for fastening
Application of mounting mortar (cement screed, glue or foam)
Installing a window sill on a mounting solution
Creation expansion gap between the window sill board and the wall
Installing spacers between the installed window sill and the top of the window
Applying sealant to the expansion gap
Removing the spacers.
preparing the window sill for installation
Before installing the window sill, it is necessary to treat it with a moisture-proofing compound. The window sill board and areas adjacent to the window opening and walls are subject to treatment.
preparing the base for installation
Before installation, the surfaces of the base and window opening are dust-free and primed. Window seams are foamed.
The installation of wooden window sills is carried out on a dry, rigid base, filled with screed or on bars in increments of 80 cm. A prerequisite is that the window sill is inserted into the wall 2-3 cm on both sides. Therefore, it will be necessary to perform wall gating.
laying and aligning support strips
The recommended height of the screed or supports made of bars should ensure that the edge of the window sill fits into the profile without a gap. For example: for a window sill with a thickness of 40 mm, the permissible gap from the screed to the support profile should be about 50 mm.
applying mounting solution
For the mounting solution for installing a wooden window sill, you can use: cement screed, adhesive mortar and two-component polyurethane foam.
Wooden window sill panel or brick house It is recommended to lay on foam. For concrete base use dry mixtures cement screed And adhesive solution.
laying cement screed and adhesive mortar
Preparation cement mortar or glue mixture produced in the traditional way. The solution is applied to the base using a spatula.
The height of the applied solution should be higher than the level of the laid out bars. After pressing down with a window sill board, the solution is distributed under the weight of the window sill. When installing, you must remember that the window sill has a slight slope (3 degrees) into the room.
applying polyurethane foam
Installation on two-component foam is a simple process that can be mastered in a few minutes. The foam container is shaken for 2 minutes before application, then, using special devices, the socket of the container is directed to the application site.
The distribution of the released foam is controlled using nozzles. You can apply the foam using a zigzag motion. After applying the foam, it is necessary to quickly install the window sill in place, because the hardening time of the foam is minimal.
creating an expansion gap
Wood has the properties of changing volume under the influence of temperature and humidity changes. Therefore, when applying the mounting solution, it is necessary to remember the need to create an expansion gap.
To do this, install a damper plate 3-5 mm thick between the window sill board and the wall. After the installation solution has completely dried, it is removed and the seam is protected using sealant.
During the hardening process polyurethane foam, adhesive mortar or cement screed, position installed window sill subject to change. It is possible to eliminate the occurrence of deformation between the window sill board and the top of the window block by installing special spacers.
The resistance of the spacer area to the forces of swelling of the foam or screed ensures perfect option window sill installation.
This video will help you install the window sill yourself.