Here at US Home Windows, we spend a lot of time talking about Home Replacement Windows. We’ve just started this blog a little over a month ago, and we haven’t even begun to scratch the surface of all of the latest home replacement window technology.
However, there’s one little topic that homeowners always ask about that’s a little bit different, and that’s replacement window sills. Think about it. You’ve just installed some fantastic gorgeous home replacement windows. They might be fiberglass. They might be vinyl. But one thing’s for certain — unless you’ve taken action, they’ll be sitting on your old, wooden window sill.
Window sills bear the worst of the weather’s fury. It’s not at all uncommon to see sloped, pitted sills, testament to late-season hail storms and driving rains. They’re not attractive by any stretch of the imagination.
To add insult to injury, the exterior wooden sills deteriorate. They crack and split, creating air penetration points where cold, damp air can work its way in, reducing your home’s energy efficiency.
What can a home owner do about unsightly, leaky window sills? What are the options in replacement window sills? Is it ever too late to fix window sills?
If you’re currently considering home replacement windows, have your home replacement window specialist take a look at the sills. Most contractors will do an assessment and give you an objective report on your window sills condition. Some sills may need to be replaced, while others can be repaired.
Once the sills are in good condition, you can have them covered in vinyl. This vinyl will match the frames of your home replacement windows, making for a seamless, finished look that is both appealing to the eye and energy efficient.
Replacement vinyl window sills require the same maintenance as replacement vinyl windows: none! You never have to worry about painting replacement vinyl window sills, and they clean easily.
The other option is to cover your window sills with aluminum. However, this option is slightly more expensive and requires special equipment. If you have a contractor skilled in aluminum work, this may be the choice for you — but bear in mind that aluminum is not maintenance free. It will require periodic painting.
Ideally, you should plan to replace your window sills at the same time you are replacing your windows. It is important to remember that if you are replacing original construction windows with modern home replacement windows, you will ‘lose’ some of your window sill due to the increased thickness of the replacement window frame. Home replacement windows are often up to an inch and a half thicker than original construction windows.
On older homes, this is often not a problem, as the homes were built with larger, more substantial sills. Newer construction tends to feature narrower sills. Keep this in mind, and if the newly narrowed sill is an aesthetic issue, you may wish to speak with a contractor about augmenting your existing sills before they are clad in vinyl or aluminum.